disheveled

adjective

di·​shev·​eled di-ˈshev-əld How to pronounce disheveled (audio)
variants or dishevelled
: marked by disorder or disarray
disheveled hair

Did you know?

Disheveled comes from Middle English discheveled, meaning "bareheaded" or "with disordered hair." That word is partially based on Anglo-French deschevelé, a combination of the prefix des- ("dis-") and chevoil ("hair"). In English, disheveled describes things other than hair that have a messy or untidy appearance.

Examples of disheveled in a Sentence

His wrinkled suit gave him a disheveled appearance. They looked dirty and disheveled.
Recent Examples on the Web Hugh Grant has been doing a lot to dismantle his dashingly disheveled ’90s rom-com image in the last 15 years or more, but Heretic might be the film to blow it all to kingdom come. Damon Wise, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2024 Next to her is Liev Schreiber, looking like a disheveled accountant in a disheveled black suit, his little round glasses as stationary as his self-serious expression. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2024 Whereas his disheveled siblings, Junior (Ulysses Janson) and twins Samuel (Atlas Janson) and Simon (Arlo Janson), have been made to look like long-haired heathens, Homer has soulful brown eyes, dark lashes and obvious lost-puppy appeal. Peter Debruge, Variety, 6 Sep. 2024 But the show’s producers, led by showrunner Bill Carruthers (David Strathairn), see the disheveled man with a visible passion for the show as a lovable loser who will delight their TV audiences. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for disheveled 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disheveled.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English discheveled bareheaded, with disordered hair, partial translation of Anglo-French deschevelé, from des- dis- + chevoil hair, from Latin capillus

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disheveled was in 1583

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Dictionary Entries Near disheveled

Cite this Entry

“Disheveled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disheveled. Accessed 9 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

disheveled

adjective
variants or dishevelled
: marked by disorder
disheveled hair

More from Merriam-Webster on disheveled

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