ruffled

adjective

ruf·​fled ˈrə-fəld 

1

: affected by a loss of calmness or composure

… he is reserved and gracious, though gets a bit ruffled when asked about things he considers too personal …

—Rhonda Shafner

"He never got upset, never got ruffled," Colonel William Peoples, one of his former commanders, recalls.

—Barry Werth

2

a

: adorned or trimmed with ruffles

They begin with a fiesta of old-time flamenco style in old-time heavy, ruffled costumes.

—Elizabeth Zimmer

But she had lost some of Todd's starchy look, and the tank top and shorts she was wearing suited her better than the ruffled things she'd favored as a child.

—Deborah Eisenberg

b(1)

of a plant : having flowers or leaves with wavy edges

ruffled gladiolas

(2)

of a flower, petal, or leaf : having wavy edges

ruffled rose petals

ruffled kale leaves

Moss rose (Portulaca grandifolia) loves the sun and is a tough beauty with satiny, ruffled flowers and a drought-resistant nature.

—Irene Virag

c

of a bird : having the feathers erected in or like a ruff see ruff entry 2 sense 2

a ruffled owl

Examples of ruffled in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The ruffled tier skirt highlights a slender silhouette. —Jean Chen Smith, Travel + Leisure, 1 Jan. 2025

The wedding burgundy rent-a-tux (complete with a ruffled shirt) references the original film. —Emma Fraser, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024

Kaia Gerber and Erykah Badu incorporated boho elements into their wardrobes, pairing graphic tees with a ruffled skirt and fringed jacket, respectively. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2024

Keoghan opted for an olive velvet Burberry velvet jacket, waistcoat and trousers and a ruffled silk poplin shirt. —Catherine Santino, People.com, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing ruffled

• ruffled the feathers of