as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
his grandfather would always tousle the boy's neatly combed hair
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Recent Examples of tousle
Inviting Half Lash to the singer's eyes and her hair down and tousled with a classic middle part.
—
Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 8 Sep. 2025
After Fallon’s now-infamous Tonight Show interview with Donald Trump leading up to the 2016 election, many criticized him for humanizing Trump by asking him softball questions and tousling his hair.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
The late night appearance doubled as Hoult formally debuting his hair on the show — the star wore his locks, which were shaved down on the sides for a tapered cut, tousled on the top to give the look a stylish edge.
—Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 26 June 2025
In images and clips shared across social media, the 25-year-old performer stunned in a rich, blue gown, tousled up-do ,and declared her affection for love.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tousle
Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 8 Sep. 2025
After Fallon’s now-infamous Tonight Show interview with Donald Trump leading up to the 2016 election, many criticized him for humanizing Trump by asking him softball questions and tousling his hair.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
The late night appearance doubled as Hoult formally debuting his hair on the show — the star wore his locks, which were shaved down on the sides for a tapered cut, tousled on the top to give the look a stylish edge.
—Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 26 June 2025
In images and clips shared across social media, the 25-year-old performer stunned in a rich, blue gown, tousled up-do ,and declared her affection for love.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tousle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tousle
Verb
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The shutdown has disrupted federal operations, delayed pay for hundreds of thousands of workers, and put critical programs at risk.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
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Senate Majority Leader John Thune quickly endorsed the deal and called the immediate vote to begin the process of approving it as the shutdown continued to disrupt flights nationwide, threaten food assistance for millions of Americans and leave federal workers without pay.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In September, Spotify added the ability to free users search for and play specific songs, rather than being forced to head directly to shuffled playlists or albums, though users were limited to one song at a time before the app started to shuffle.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
8 Nov. 2025
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The Royals shuffled their hitting department after the 2025 season concluded.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Rose tells Shaw that her community is concerned about sacred remains being disturbed.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
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The 34-year-old appeared to have deactivated her X account after disturbing posts on her account resurfaced online.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Farmers’ Almanac will be gone for good after its final 2026 edition, not to be confused with The Old Farmer's Almanac, a separate publication.—
Alex Perry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
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Blue Origin also launches New Shepard from Texas The New Glenn spacecraft is not to be confused with Blue Origin's much smaller New Shepard rocket that the company launches from West Texas on brief trips taking paying passengers high above Earth's atmosphere.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tousle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tousle. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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