ruffle

¹ American  

[ruhf-uhl] / ˈrʌf əl /

verb (used with object)

ruffled, ruffling

1. 

   to destroy the smoothness or evenness of.

   The wind ruffled the sand.

   Synonyms:

   rumple, wrinkle, disorder, disarrange

   Antonyms:

   order, arrange, smooth

2. to erect (the feathers), as a bird in anger.

3. to disturb, vex, or irritate.

   to be ruffled by a perceived slight.

   Synonyms:

   agitate, annoy, upset

   Antonyms:

   compose, soothe

4. to turn (the pages of a book) rapidly.

5. to pass (cards) through the fingers rapidly in shuffling.

6. to draw up (cloth, lace, etc.) into a ruffle by gathering along one edge.

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verb (used without object)

ruffled, ruffling

1. to be or become ruffled; undulate; flutter.

   Flags ruffle in the wind.

2. to be or become vexed or irritated.

3. to put on airs; swagger.

noun

1. a break in the smoothness or evenness of some surface; undulation.

   Synonyms:

   vexation, trial, headache, aggravation

2. a strip of cloth, lace, etc., drawn up by gathering along one edge and used as a trimming on a dress, blouse, etc.

   Synonyms:

   ruff, frill

3. some object resembling this, as the ruff of a bird.

4. disturbance or vexation; annoyance; irritation.

   It is impossible to live without some daily ruffles to our composure.

   Antonyms:

   joy, delight

5. a disturbed state of mind; perturbation.

ruffle ² American  

[ruhf-uhl] / ˈrʌf əl /

noun

1. a low, continuous beating of a drum.

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verb (used with object)

ruffled, ruffling

1. to beat (a drum) in this manner.

ruffle ¹ British  

/ ˈrʌfəl /

verb

1. to make, be, or become irregular or rumpled

   to ruffle a child's hair

   a breeze ruffling the water

2. to annoy, irritate, or be annoyed or irritated

3. (tr) to make into a ruffle; pleat

4. (of a bird) to erect (its feathers) in anger, display, etc

5. (tr) to flick (cards, pages, etc) rapidly with the fingers

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noun

1. an irregular or disturbed surface

2. a strip of pleated material used for decoration or as a trim

3. zoology another name for ruff 1

4. annoyance or irritation

ruffle ² British  

/ ˈrʌfəl /

noun

1. a low continuous drumbeat

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verb

1. (tr) to beat (a drum) with a low repetitive beat

ruffle ³ British  

/ ˈrʌfəl /

verb

1. archaic (intr) to behave riotously or arrogantly; swagger

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Other Word Forms

• ruffler
  noun
• ruffly
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of ruffle¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English verb ruffelen, ruflen; origin uncertain; perhaps cognate with Low German ruffelen “to crumple, rumple,” Old Norse hruffa “to scratch”

Origin of ruffle²

First recorded in 1690–1700; archaic ruff in same sense (perhaps imitative) + -le

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Explanation

A ruffle is a pleated piece of decorative fabric often used as trim on clothes, like the ruffles on a pirate’s shirt. To ruffle is to make someone lose their composure. Argh. The word ruffle is mysterious, but it might be from the Low German word ruffelen which means "to wrinkle." A ruffle on the bottom of a dress is like a fancy wrinkle. To ruffle someone is to upset them, and they’ll need to get straightened out. Often, this word is used in the expression "ruffle their feathers." Hearing bad news will ruffle most people's feathers. An unruffled person and an unruffled shirt will both be smoother.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ruffle ruffled ruffling

The garments that they could not find, such as Bessette’s wedding dress, her rehearsal dinner dress and a tan and black ruffle coat from Yamamoto, they re-created using historical images and input from the designers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

Data centers serve that purpose nicely: Like all large-scale building projects, they ruffle local feathers; and their purpose, unlike an airport or a shopping center, requires explanation and so lends itself to conspiratorial Facebook posting.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026

"Unfortunately, you do have to ruffle some feathers to really make a massive change in the sport, especially one like fencing that is so traditional," says Chamley-Watson.

From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026

Yet it probably won’t be enough to ruffle feathers on Wall Street, especially with investors focused on Iran.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 10, 2026

I tuck it back into its hiding place beneath a neck ruffle on my dress.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

Pau Torres: Calming presence at the back without being too ruffled.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

American football team the Atlanta Falcons have ruffled feathers with their new logo, which instantly drew mocking comparisons with imagery from Adolf Hitler's Germany.

From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026

Alexandr Wang drove Muse to the top of the charts, putting the company back in the AI race—even if he ruffled feathers inside the tech giant.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

Because in his time as a resident and elected official, he’s ruffled some feathers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

“There’s Daddy’s plane,” Karen squealed, jumping up and down in her new ruffled dress and patent leather shoes.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

The sound of papel picado garlands ruffling in the wind — and an elaborately swirling marigold runway — welcomed corporeal and non-corporeal visitors to Victoria Jean Cruz Jimenez’s altar.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026

At the Landings Golf & Athletic Club in Savannah, Ga., executive director Steven Freund credits a strategy of segmenting programming to fit every age, even if it means ruffling a few feathers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

President Donald Trump has a way of ruffling feathers.

From Barron's ● Jan. 23, 2026

Garg's admirers saw him as someone who never thought twice before ruffling feathers.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2025

Outside, the harmattan wind tore across the front yard, ruffling the plants in the circular garden, bending the will and branches of trees, coating the parked cars with more dust.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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