1
2
as in thorn
something that is a source of irritation
a spouse's snoring is one ruffle that many couples must eventually come to terms with
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
the stream of minor complaints finally ruffled him into snapping, "If you don't like the way I'm doing it, do it yourself!"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of ruffle
Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Aug. 2025
Beneath the minidress, Nyong’o wore a white blouse with billowing sleeves and a statement ruffle collar, slightly reminiscent of the Elizabethan collars of Shakespeare’s time.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 22 Aug. 2025
Ben East, Outdoor Life, 28 Aug. 2025
After a while, that took on a patronising air, going from a team everyone else had a lot of affection for to one whose hair was getting ruffled, broadly because the bigger sides didn’t regard them as competitors.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruffle
Noun
Glitter, tinsel, ruffles, beads, and lots of color are your best friends.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Aug. 2025
Beneath the minidress, Nyong’o wore a white blouse with billowing sleeves and a statement ruffle collar, slightly reminiscent of the Elizabethan collars of Shakespeare’s time.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
This pike ruffled his temper with its lunging rushes, and so Maurice really lowered the boom.
—Ben East, Outdoor Life, 28 Aug. 2025
After a while, that took on a patronising air, going from a team everyone else had a lot of affection for to one whose hair was getting ruffled, broadly because the bigger sides didn’t regard them as competitors.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruffle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruffle
Noun
-
The flounce hem is feminine and fun, adding just enough interest to take this from plain to chic.—
Ivy Odom,
Southern Living,
9 July 2025
-
Two centuries later, frills and flounces are back in style on the heels of the cottagecore bedding scene, allowing your bedscape to embrace its softer side.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
24 May 2025
Noun
-
Primus has expressed skepticism about rail mergers and would likely have been a thorn in the side of this rail merger.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The Angels pulled out a 4-3 victory as Jo Adell remained a thorn in the Royals’ side.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Comments about my fast walk annoy me.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Keanu, still annoyed from the veto ceremony, talked to Ava Pearl in the HOH room and called Rachel a liar.—
David Wysong,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Fill empty spaces with more soil to ensure the edging is compact.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Creeping speedwell makes a great lawn substitute and works well between pavers or as an edging along pathways.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In a recent study by Climate Rights International, workers spoke of experiencing excessive sweating, headaches, fever, nausea, heat palpitations, dehydration and temporary vision loss.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Soldiers reported headaches and nausea, leading Congress to cut funding in 2022.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Think flying in spring water to a Caribbean island because a female client thought the local water irritated her scalp.—
Louis J. Esterhazy,
Footwear News,
7 Sep. 2025
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However, Agnes is dressed exactly like Wednesday and her Single White Female act is irritating the hell out of her hero.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Latvian announcement came hours after Poland's Operational Command issued notification on Thursday of the closure of Polish airspace all along the 260-mile border with Belarus.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
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In late 2022, a missile struck Polish territory in the village of Przewodów, near the country’s border with Ukraine, killing two people.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Couples who respect yellow lights tend to build trust, because hesitation is treated as valuable input, not as a nuisance.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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In this era of college athletics what was once a nuisance and an annoyance — college classes — now often appear to not even be a part of the equation.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruffle. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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