tousled
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of tousled
Explanation
Anything that's tousled is rumpled or disheveled, like your tousled hair when you first get out of bed in the morning. The adjective tousled can be used for anything that's untidy, but you'll usually see it describing a head of hair. Tousled hair is messy, windblown, or otherwise unkempt. The verb tousle came first—today it means "make untidy," but originally to tousle was "to handle or push roughly."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Beach waves, bombshell, Targaryen-inspired twists, luscious locks and a tousled bob.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
With her distinctive husky voice, tousled mane of blonde hair and black eyeliner, Tyler was instantly recognisable as the queen of the 1980s power ballad.
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
Troye Sivan channeled photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in tousled hair and designer jeans.
From Salon ● May 6, 2026
Her tousled hair and bold eyeliner set fashion trends worldwide, while her performances cemented Bardot as a cinematic trailblazer.
From BBC ● Dec. 28, 2025
He tousled his daughter’s hair and sat on the couch.
From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers
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