1
as in to crumple
to create (as by crushing) an irregular mass of creases in
the guest rumpled the antique bedspread by lying down on it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
the aunt would invariably rumple the little boy's hair whenever she came to visit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 rumple
And there was no single form of equilibrium for a knitted sweater's resting shape; rather, there were multiple metastable states that were dependent on the fabric's history—the different ways it had been folded, stretched, or rumpled.
—
Ars Technica, 27 Dec. 2024
Her hair is frizzy, or her dress is rumpled, but that disheveledness was something that Turini wanted to explore in Maddie’s wardrobe to signify her lack of self.
—Kerensa Cadenas, IndieWire, 16 Aug. 2024
Cooley was a prosecutor straight out of central casting, as Trump might put it, gray-haired and a bit rumpled, who gave the impression of having witnessed more than his share of crime victims’ pain.
—Dan Morain, The Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2024
It was returned to me with its chiffon over-layer in shreds and my previously thriving silk buds were rumpled, drooping, and wilted—like a flower bed dug up by the neighbor’s dog.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 20 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for rumple
Ars Technica, 27 Dec. 2024
Her hair is frizzy, or her dress is rumpled, but that disheveledness was something that Turini wanted to explore in Maddie’s wardrobe to signify her lack of self.
—Kerensa Cadenas, IndieWire, 16 Aug. 2024
Cooley was a prosecutor straight out of central casting, as Trump might put it, gray-haired and a bit rumpled, who gave the impression of having witnessed more than his share of crime victims’ pain.
—Dan Morain, The Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2024
It was returned to me with its chiffon over-layer in shreds and my previously thriving silk buds were rumpled, drooping, and wilted—like a flower bed dug up by the neighbor’s dog.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 20 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for rumple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rumple
Verb
-
His mother found him, crumpled on the floor of his acupuncture studio, in a pool of blood.—
Dateline NBC,
NBC news,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Of course Swift’s legion of devotees would scoff at the notion that their heroine was anything but a pop goddess, their very own Glinda the Good Witch sent to comfort with lyrical poetry and aid crumpled hearts.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Best Amazon Prime Day Storage & Organization Deals Keep the closets neat, the drawers organized, the spices in alphabetical order, and the bedding from getting wrinkled with these genius storage and organization hacks.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Dokotoo Knit Turtleneck Sweater Chunky knits are typically more resistant to wrinkling, and this turtleneck is no exception.—
Genevieve Cepeda,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The results reinforce what many pediatric specialists have long suspected—that too much screen exposure in early childhood may disrupt normal brain development.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Unlike antifa, the Proud Boys actually did something that disrupted the United States federal government and threatened to derail the peaceful transfer of power.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Pooling at the wrists, scrunching at the ankles, dragging on the ground — chalk these fashion challenges up to just another day in the life of this 5-foot shopping writer.—
Jamie Allison Sanders,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
-
The cast scrunched out easily, leaving curls soft and natural-looking.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Lina glances at the ceiling, brow furrowed.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Worthington furrowed his brow and shook his head.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Sharks also shuffled their defense pairs for Monday’s practice, with Dmitry Orlov and Mario Ferraro forming the top line, Nick Leddy with Timothy Liljegren, and Sam Dickinson paired with John Klingberg.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Couples, girlfriends, and wellness aficionados were shuffling from pool to plunge, catching up, sitting close, and enjoying the experience together.—
Victoria Uwumarogie,
Essence,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Each human cell contains about two meters of DNA tightly folded in complex 3D structures.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Oct. 2025
-
This doesn’t just happen for balls rolling down hills, but for rain that pools into puddles, ponds, and lakes, for molecules that fold into a particular configuration, and even for electrons that cascade down into a stable or quasi-stable energy state.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The full-coverage formula doesn’t crease or cake.—
Caitlyn Martyn
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Ill-fitting socks can crease and may also contribute to blisters.—
Aubrey Bailey,
Verywell Health,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rumple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rumple. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share