disheveled

adjective

di·​shev·​eled di-ˈshev-əld 

variants or dishevelled

: marked by disorder or disarray

disheveled hair

Did you know?

Disheveled comes from Middle English discheveled, meaning "bareheaded" or "with disordered hair." That word is partially based on Anglo-French deschevelé, a combination of the prefix des- ("dis-") and chevoil ("hair"). In English, disheveled describes things other than hair that have a messy or untidy appearance.

Synonyms

• chaotic
• cluttered
• confused
• disarranged
• disarrayed
• disordered
• disorderly
• higgledy-piggledy
• hugger-mugger
• jumbled
• littered
• messed
• messy
• muddled
• mussed
• mussy
• pell-mell
• rumpled
• sloppy
• topsy-turvy
• tousled
• tumbled
• unkempt
• untidy
• upside-down

Examples of disheveled in a Sentence

His wrinkled suit gave him a disheveled appearance.

They looked dirty and disheveled.

Recent Examples on the Web

This latest gambit is a reflection of their disheveled mentality. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 25 Nov. 2024

In the Apple streaming series Slow Horses, a group of disheveled underdog spies is relegated to a separate building away from spy headquarters. —Gena Cox, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024

Her dance, with disheveled hair, frantic eyes and red vermillion spread across her forehead, was truly chilling. —Anupama Chopra, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024

Julian Casablancas sneered his way into instant rock stardom nearly a quarter of a century ago as the glamorously disheveled frontman of the Strokes. —Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English discheveled bareheaded, with disordered hair, partial translation of Anglo-French deschevelé, from des- dis- + chevoil hair, from Latin capillus

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

disheveled

adjective

variants or dishevelled

: marked by disorder

disheveled hair