dishevel

verb

di·​shev·​el di-ˈshev-əl 

disheveled or dishevelled; disheveling or dishevelling di-ˈshe-v(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

: to throw into disorder or disarray

dishevelment

di-ˈshev-əl-mənt 

noun

Synonyms of dishevel

• disrupt
• disturb
• confuse
• shuffle
• disarray

Examples of dishevel in a Sentence

decorations for the garden wedding that had been disheveled by the wind

Recent Examples on the Web

While the flowers may have been a casualty of the high temperatures and humid weather in New York on July 3, some commenters speculated that the bouquet was disheveled from the bouquet toss itself. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 6 July 2026

Boots were made to look deliberately disheveled, with tiny ladybirds across them. — ABC News, 24 June 2026

Inspector Thomas Lynley, eighth earl of Asherton and generally natty guy played by Nathaniel Parker, and his distinctly working-class and perpetually disheveled sergeant, Barbara Havers (Sharon Small), creates a classic odd-couple mix that allows some actual insight into issues of class and gender. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026

As for the sweatpants, the wide-leg silhouette is roomy but not disheveled, and the drawstring waist is easy to adjust. — Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from disheveled

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dishevel

• daredevil
• sublevel
• bevel
• devil
• level
• multilevel

Kids Definition

dishevel

verb

di·​shev·​el dish-ˈev-əl 

disheveled or dishevelled; disheveling or dishevelling -ˈev-(ə-)liŋ 

: to throw into disorder : make untidy

the wind disheveled her clothes