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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tousle
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
Her hair, styled by her go-to hairstylist, Tym Wallace, was brushed over to one side and tousled at the crown for a little volume, with the length hitting right below her cheekbone at a sharp angle.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 4 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for tousle
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
Her hair, styled by her go-to hairstylist, Tym Wallace, was brushed over to one side and tousled at the crown for a little volume, with the length hitting right below her cheekbone at a sharp angle.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 4 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for tousle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tousle
Verb
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Eastern members of the alliance, including Estonia, Poland, and Romania, recently reported incursions into their airspace, while drones that disrupted Danish airports are suspected of being linked to Russia.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 Sep. 2025
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Sensory deprivation training has become increasingly common over the past decade, particularly when Steph Curry popularized practicing with strobe goggles to disrupt his vision.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Cooper, an alum of Ralph Lauren and the former creative director of Ash NYC, plans to rotate the displays weekly, mixing in vintage furniture from his studio’s collection and shuffling the assortment so regulars will always find something new.—
Sydney Gore,
Architectural Digest,
29 Sep. 2025
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Typically, at this time, nearly 20 minutes after a game, players are shuffling in and out.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Leaf blowers of any kind may disturb wildlife habitat and contribute to soil erosion by removing organic matter and exposing the top layer of soil.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Sep. 2025
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Part of the controversy appears to have related to the fact that the carpet covered tile that, if disturbed, could expose children to asbestos.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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By bridging cutting-edge research with accessible, actionable advice, this book fills a critical gap in the menopause conversation — one that has left millions of women confused, underserved and unheard.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
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Others commented on the eeriness of discovering unfamiliar images in one’s personal gallery and the realization of how default app settings can confuse or alarm users.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tousle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tousle. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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