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

While Christopher John Rogers took direct inspiration from Pierrot, Chloé and Moschino incorporated a ruffled collar into outerwear. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2026

The stitching on his long coat and ruffled sleeves — all created by Gabrielle — paid homage to Malort. —Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026

King appeared bridal-ready in a white lace crop top and a ruffled maxi skirt. —Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 24 Mar. 2026

The puff sleeves on this blouse are paired with ruffled hems for a playfully charming and chic look. —Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing ruffled

• ruffled the feathers of

Rhymes for ruffled

• muffled
• shuffled
• unruffled