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
Think flowy ruffled dresses paired with cowboy boots, crochet, straw bags, and, of course, plenty of denim.
—Irene Kim, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2025
Styled in Saint Laurent for most, if not all, of her run, Saldaña experimented with silhouettes — from ruffled portrait necklines for the BAFTAs to column silhouettes for the SAG Awards — but stayed loyal to her favorite black dresses.
—Michelle Lee, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Symptoms range from no signs of disease to mild cases such as ruffled feathers and a drop in egg production to severe infections affecting multiple internal organs.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
One of my best friends loves the ruffled detailing of this casual mini dress, while another swears by an off-the-shoulder dress for destination trips or wedding rehearsals.
—Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 27 Mar. 2025
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Irene Kim, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2025
Styled in Saint Laurent for most, if not all, of her run, Saldaña experimented with silhouettes — from ruffled portrait necklines for the BAFTAs to column silhouettes for the SAG Awards — but stayed loyal to her favorite black dresses.
—Michelle Lee, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Symptoms range from no signs of disease to mild cases such as ruffled feathers and a drop in egg production to severe infections affecting multiple internal organs.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
One of my best friends loves the ruffled detailing of this casual mini dress, while another swears by an off-the-shoulder dress for destination trips or wedding rehearsals.
—Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 27 Mar. 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 16 Apr. 2025.
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