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
Rhonda Shafner"He never got upset, never got ruffled," Colonel William Peoples, one of his former commanders, recalls.—Barry Werth
Barry Werth2
a
: adorned or trimmed with ruffles
They begin with a fiesta of old-time flamenco style in old-time heavy, ruffled costumes.—Elizabeth Zimmer
Elizabeth ZimmerBut 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
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
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
Scoop it up with ruffled chips, and try not to eat the whole bowl in one go.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 31 May 2025
But leave it to Times film critic Amy Nicholson to open her latest Cannes diary with a Samoyed walking the red carpet in a ruffled gown.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2025
Leave it up to Sferra to render the traditional ruffled bedskirt in a rich, luxurious way.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 May 2025
In Paris, the ever-effortless Liya Kebede paired a black ruffled crop blouse with a slit midi skirt; a look that made a strong case for bohemian minimalism—yes, even in all black.
—Sarah Zendejas, Vogue, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruffled
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Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 31 May 2025
But leave it to Times film critic Amy Nicholson to open her latest Cannes diary with a Samoyed walking the red carpet in a ruffled gown.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2025
Leave it up to Sferra to render the traditional ruffled bedskirt in a rich, luxurious way.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 May 2025
In Paris, the ever-effortless Liya Kebede paired a black ruffled crop blouse with a slit midi skirt; a look that made a strong case for bohemian minimalism—yes, even in all black.
—Sarah Zendejas, Vogue, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruffled
Cite this Entry
“Ruffled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ruffled. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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