kerfuffle

noun

kər-ˈfə-fəl How to pronounce kerfuffle (audio)
Definition of kerfufflenext
chiefly British
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity predictably, the royal scandal caused quite a kerfuffle on Fleet Street

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of kerfuffle The moment brought back memories of their infamous skirmish in San Diego, a kerfuffle caught on camera. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2026 British comedian John Oliver has even weighed in on the kerfuffle. — Julie Carr Smyth, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026 Although the event was verified, the invite itself seems to have been made using AI, and Paltrow herself responded to all the online kerfuffle by trying to meme herself out of it. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026 During the Cubs recent trip to Los Angeles to play the Dodgers, PCA and the Dodgers fans had a bit of a kerfuffle. — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for kerfuffle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kerfuffle
  1. commotion
  2. stir
  3. disturbance
  4. fuss
  5. hurry
  6. turmoil
Noun
  • For trick-or-treating, the department warned that small children may be afraid of dogs, while dogs themselves may be afraid of all the commotion with gaggles of kids coming to the door.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • In the commotion, she was briefly separated from her 85-year-old mother, who lives with her.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of commotion
Noun
  • From Beyoncé, Solange, and Jay-Z’s elevator incident in 2014, to Kim Kardashian causing a stir after wearing Marilyn Monroe’s beaded dress to the 2022 Met Gala, fashion’s biggest night is no stranger to backlash.
    — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 5 Nov. 2026
  • At the last Met Gala in May, model Bhavitha Mandava caused a stir online after she was outfitted in a pair of Chanel jeans and a half-zip many thought to be far too workaday.
    — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of stir
Noun
  • Ars has previously looked at how this X-plane program is intended to support the design of future supersonic airliners that may fly overland while minimizing disturbances for buildings and people below.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Atmospheric disturbances recorded during the launch suggested the rocket may have punched a hole in Earth’s ionosphere, according to a study by researchers at Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of disturbance
Noun
  • After a marathon journey involving three connecting flights to reach Glasgow—and coming off the back of a particularly hectic week that had left me feeling a little under the weather—the lack of fuss was firmly appreciated.
    — Liam Hess, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Their clients, like the classic Vegas-chapel clientele, didn’t want the fuss of a giant ceremony or just didn’t have the guests.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of fuss
Noun
  • Linebacker Rasheem Biles was a menace for the Longhorns and also had two, plus three QB hurries as a blitzer.
    — PJ Green November 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Traore had six tackles, 1½ tackles for a loss, a half-sack and two quarterback hurries, and Talich had six tackles, the interception and the key pass breakup to fuel the defense.
    — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of hurry
Noun
  • The estate has been in turmoil since Michael’s death on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50.
    — Claudia Rosenbaum, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Interconnected supply chains, geopolitical turmoil and inflation, AI’s impact on jobs, and climate change’s ripple effects on global consumption patterns are collectively scuppering the tried-and-tested playbook.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of turmoil

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Cite this Entry

“Kerfuffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kerfuffle. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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