ruffled

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

Examples of ruffled in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At only a few weeks old, young eaglets were covered in ruffled, brown feathery fluff. —Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025

Keke’s is super-short and styled in a side part with gentle waves, while Emma’s has a ruffled, boho quality with a fringe that rests just above her eyebrows, but both are proof that this is 2025’s statement style. —Morgan Fargo, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2025

Grapent Wide-Leg Pants with Waist Ties A ruffled paperbag waist with drawstring ties makes these wide-leg khaki pants extra comfortable. —Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025

Also turning heads are the ruffled dresses, each with its own personality. —Essence, 18 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing ruffled

• ruffled the feathers of

Rhymes for ruffled

• muffled
• shuffled
• unruffled