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as in thorns
something that is a source of irritation
a spouse's snoring is one ruffle that many couples must eventually come to terms with
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in annoys
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
the stream of minor complaints finally ruffled him into snapping, "If you don't like the way I'm doing it, do it yourself!"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ruffles
Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
Her look featured a plethora of dramatic ruffles and a high neckline that felt romantic and Victorian-esque.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 9 June 2026
The cascading ruffles and flower hardware are eye-catching and offer elegant movement.
—Rebecca Shinners, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
In the photos, Jenner accessorizes the pink bikini with a matching pink skirt with ruffles on the bottom.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
On court, Osaka wore a blue-and-green Nike dress streaked with vertical ruffles.
—Ava Wallace, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Elsewhere, brands like PatBO, Anthropologie and AMUR are experimenting with even bolder silhouettes featuring feather trims, exaggerated ruffles and sculptural appliqués.
—Lauren Fisher, Footwear News, 28 May 2026
This top subtly calls back to a 19th-century Spanish flamenco dress, a style traditionally defined by dramatic bell sleeves, voluminous ruffles, and sweeping off-the-shoulder silhouettes.
—Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
While the fashion interpretation of this trend is all about ruffles, bows, and pastels, the baby name version is more about embodying cuteness.
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 21 May 2026
Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
And Elon Musk’s AI power plant ruffles a Mississippi city.
—David Hickey, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
Luckily for the show, nothing ruffles the other women’s feathers more, so good television still ensues.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
Noun
In Cap d'Antibes, France, Jodie Turner-Smith attended a lunch at Villa Dorane as part of the Zimmermann Summer Escape in a white crop top with ruffles and lace details and a pair of matching trousers.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
Her look featured a plethora of dramatic ruffles and a high neckline that felt romantic and Victorian-esque.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 9 June 2026
The cascading ruffles and flower hardware are eye-catching and offer elegant movement.
—Rebecca Shinners, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
In the photos, Jenner accessorizes the pink bikini with a matching pink skirt with ruffles on the bottom.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
On court, Osaka wore a blue-and-green Nike dress streaked with vertical ruffles.
—Ava Wallace, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Elsewhere, brands like PatBO, Anthropologie and AMUR are experimenting with even bolder silhouettes featuring feather trims, exaggerated ruffles and sculptural appliqués.
—Lauren Fisher, Footwear News, 28 May 2026
This top subtly calls back to a 19th-century Spanish flamenco dress, a style traditionally defined by dramatic bell sleeves, voluminous ruffles, and sweeping off-the-shoulder silhouettes.
—Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
While the fashion interpretation of this trend is all about ruffles, bows, and pastels, the baby name version is more about embodying cuteness.
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 21 May 2026
Verb
Mama pats Rafa’s head then ruffles his hair.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
And Elon Musk’s AI power plant ruffles a Mississippi city.
—David Hickey, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
Luckily for the show, nothing ruffles the other women’s feathers more, so good television still ensues.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruffles
Noun
-
Prone to wearing clothes that suggest an overgrown pre-teen herself, all frills, flounces and bright colors, Martha doesn’t look like great maternal material to Claire, although this judgmental attitude may be evidence of her own maternal deficiencies.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2026
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Two centuries later, frills and flounces are back in style on the heels of the cottagecore bedding scene, allowing your bedscape to embrace its softer side.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Other diamonds have spikier settings resembling thorns.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
-
Thanks to four layers of latex and a 3750D elastic outer fabric, the inner hose is protected from pesky things like thorns and sharp corners.—
Quincy Bulin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 May 2026
Verb
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What is the pettiest thing that annoys you during a race weekend?—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
-
Seeing this much effort put into ripping off people annoys him.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
1 June 2026
Noun
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By targeting Israel in response to attacks in Lebanon, Tehran appeared to be signaling that its red lines no longer stop at its own borders – and that its leaders are ready to take greater risks.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
10 June 2026
-
These laws give objective criteria to divide data into distinct tiers, between truly sensitive data that needs special handling, and other data that can be transferred across borders with adequate protections.—
Leonard Lim,
Fortune,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
People there in the 1970s were getting sick with symptoms like severe fatigue, headaches, skin rashes and swollen knees.—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
-
Persistent headaches, scratchy throats and that foggy, fatigued feeling that never quite lifts may not be a virus or seasonal pollen.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
8 June 2026
Verb
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When traveling, the EPA suggests inspecting any room visitors will be staying in for the presence of bed bugs.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
As an existing subdivision — 99% of it vacant — Azure Vista offered hundreds of buildable vacant lots populated only by red ants, quail and Groucho Marx bugs.—
Eric DuVall,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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One of the hallmarks of its origins is a tile work from 1928 by Ernest Batcheler, an American artist of Dutch descent, that portrays a Spanish woman wearing a pink traditional Sevilla dress with frills, a shawl with fringe and a headpiece known as a mantilla.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 June 2026
-
Simple, no frills, and a tradition made with so much love and soul for over 70 years.—
Taylor Tobin,
Southern Living,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Fried issued her statement to the Herald in response to questions about frustrations with the party’s silence on Wasserman Schultz’s run.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
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Those frustrations turned to elation last summer when not only did Uzbekistan finally qualify, but did so with a game to spare when edging out the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in their group.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruffles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruffles. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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