ruffled

1 of 2

adjective

ruf·​fled ˈrə-fəld 

1

: affected by a loss of calmness or composure

… he is reserved and gracious, though gets a bit ruffled when asked about things he considers too personal …

—Rhonda Shafner

"He never got upset, never got ruffled," Colonel William Peoples, one of his former commanders, recalls.

—Barry Werth

2

a

: adorned or trimmed with ruffles

They begin with a fiesta of old-time flamenco style in old-time heavy, ruffled costumes.

—Elizabeth Zimmer

But she had lost some of Todd's starchy look, and the tank top and shorts she was wearing suited her better than the ruffled things she'd favored as a child.

—Deborah Eisenberg

b(1)

of a plant : having flowers or leaves with wavy edges

ruffled gladiolas

(2)

of a flower, petal, or leaf : having wavy edges

ruffled rose petals

ruffled kale leaves

Moss rose (Portulaca grandifolia) loves the sun and is a tough beauty with satiny, ruffled flowers and a drought-resistant nature.

—Irene Virag

c

of a bird : having the feathers erected in or like a ruff see ruff entry 2 sense 2

a ruffled owl

ruffled

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of ruffle entry 1

Examples of ruffled in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Anya Taylor-Joy also went for volume in her vintage Pierre Cardin, which included a mega-ruffled duster coat. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 8 Nov. 2026

Her outfit included a corset-style bodice and teeny striped shorts, with a ruffled collar, over-the-knee stockings, and red heels tying it all together. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 2 Nov. 2026

In another effort to pay homage to her heritage, Osaka’s Wimbledon attire was a ceremonial Japanese dress with billowing long sleeves, ornate embroidery and a ruffled skirt. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026

Of course, the ruffled potato chips that arrive with the dip are made in-house, and the fish is lacquered with a honey miso glaze. — Khushbu Shah, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for ruffled

• muffled
• shuffled
• unruffled