rumple

American  

[ruhm-puhl] / ˈrʌm pəl /

verb (used with object)

rumpled, rumpling

1. to crumple or crush into wrinkles.

   to rumple a sheet of paper.

   Synonyms:

   muss, crease, wrinkle

2. to ruffle; tousle (sometimes followed byup ).

   The wind rumpled her hair.

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verb (used without object)

rumpled, rumpling

1. to become wrinkled or crumpled.

   Tissue rumples easily.

noun

1. a wrinkle or irregular fold; crease.

rumple British  

/ ˈrʌmpəl /

verb

1. to make or become wrinkled, crumpled, ruffled, or dishevelled

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noun

1. a wrinkle, fold, or crease

Other Word Forms

• rumply adjective
• unrumpled adjective

Etymology

Origin of rumple

1595–1605; < Dutch rompelen (v.), rompel (noun)

Example Sentences

I patted Blizzard on the head and rumpled his ears.

From Literature

The shah heard news of the coup in Rome, where he arrived “a rumpled refugee,” according to the New York Daily News on Aug. 20, 1953.

From Barron's

The shah heard news of the coup in Rome, where he arrived “a rumpled refugee,” according to the New York Daily News on Aug. 20, 1953.

From Barron's

“One cannot just rush from one’s home looking shabby, rumpled, and unkempt,” Handsome would likely say to Duane.

From Literature

It might have acquired a crack in that mighty windshield by then, a rumpled bumper, a dent in the door, mismatched mudders.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• derange
• dishevel