rumpled 1 of 2

adjective

as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness a rumpled room that suited its teenage occupant just fine

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rumpled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of rumple
1
as in crumpled
to create (as by crushing) an irregular mass of creases in the guest rumpled the antique bedspread by lying down on it

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2
as in furrowed
to develop creases or folds the linen skirt rumpled as soon as she started wearing it

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3
as in disrupted
to undo the proper order or arrangement of the aunt would invariably rumple the little boy's hair whenever she came to visit

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rumpled
Adjective
This October, against this newly rumpled and roughneck version of the Milwaukee Brewers, that’s apparently going to be easier said than done. — Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 The actor appears to have brought her main character's energy—romantic, slightly rumpled—to her hair. — Elle Turner, Glamour, 11 Oct. 2026 Eager listeners waited in long lines for the rumpled professor to sign their books. — Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2026 The highest-wattage cast members are undoubtedly Miller and West, ideally chosen to exude effortless glam and rumpled arrogance, respectively. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026 New fabrics, like rumpled viscose and a parachute-y nylon, added both softness and volume in interchangeable sets and standout dolman-sleeve trench coats. — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026 As a prime example of grunge-girl hair, era icon Alexa Chung has perfected the balance between rumpled and refined. — Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 9 Aug. 2026 Years of unpacking creased, rumpled clothing and settling on a lesser-cute backup outfit have taught me to prioritize building my travel wardrobe around wrinkle-free pieces. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 12 June 2026 Erika’s brother, Klaus (August Diehl), sits naked by a rumpled bed with last night’s conquest still muddled up with his sheets, talking on the phone to his sister. — Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 14 May 2026
Verb
Edward Juvier is raspy and rumpled as the imperious theater producer Bela Zangler. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2026 The silver hide rumpled and stretched over the massive body. — Anton Money, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026 When his teams didn’t entertain, Moe became the show, this cursing, grumbling, rumpled 6-foot-5 firebrand who dressed like a ’70s private detective, a disheveled anti-hero who detested suits. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026 He was rumpled in the summer heat and wearing a collarless white shirt. — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rumpled
  1. messy
  2. crumpled
  3. furrowed
  4. disrupted
  5. chaotic
  6. scrunched
  7. wrinkled
  8. confused
Adjective
  • Plus, merging everything into one pot can be messy; One partner may be paying off student loans while the other is debt-free with a pristine credit history.
    — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The Bears have a messy QB situation but the defense has been mostly good.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of messy
Verb
  • The silver vehicle lay upside down in the Uncompahgre River, crumpled like an aluminum can.
    — Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
  • At the beginning of a normal Friday practice in Week 11, Bowman crumpled to the grass at the Falcons’ practice facility.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of crumpled
Verb
  • The stranger watched it with deathly seriousness, forehead furrowed as if thinking through some impossible problem.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • They were furrowed throughout his testimony.
    — Tom Dotan, Vanity Fair, 17 May 2026
Definition of furrowed
Verb
  • Nearby, elite engineering school Mines Paris was also disrupted by blockades.
    — Makini Brice, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Gone are the four nations, corresponding to the elements, who coexisted in harmony that was disrupted and then, episode by episode, restored.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of disrupted
Adjective
  • Meloni's right-wing coalition says the change will lead to more stable governments and avoid chaotic post-election dealmaking.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026
  • In a recent Nature study, Stoliker’s team designed an experiment to test whether these directions are truly chaotic and random.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of chaotic
Verb
  • Sitting at the defendant’s table, Flynn scrunched up his face and appeared to be crying as the 911 call was played aloud.
    — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Sheer tees scrunched and stretched in awkward ways at Brandon Maxwell.
    — Alison Syrett Cleary, InStyle, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of scrunched
Verb
  • The same men worked in the lobby—a little fatter, a little more wrinkled and gray.
    — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Softer interpretations of the trench were ruched, pouffed and purposefully wrinkled.
    — Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of wrinkled
Verb
  • Prime Big Deal Days is Amazon's multiday sales event that takes place in the fall, not to be confused with Prime Day, Amazon's summer shopping event.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026
  • At last week's race in Azerbaijan, Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas crashed on the last lap and reportedly blamed it on the software becoming confused and affecting his braking.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of confused

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Cite this Entry

“Rumpled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rumpled. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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