1
as in to crumple
to create (as by crushing) an irregular mass of creases in
the guest rumpled the antique bedspread by lying down on it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
the aunt would invariably rumple the little boy's hair whenever she came to visit
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rumple
And there was no single form of equilibrium for a knitted sweater's resting shape; rather, there were multiple metastable states that were dependent on the fabric's history—the different ways it had been folded, stretched, or rumpled.
—
Ars Technica, 27 Dec. 2024
Her hair is frizzy, or her dress is rumpled, but that disheveledness was something that Turini wanted to explore in Maddie’s wardrobe to signify her lack of self.
—Kerensa Cadenas, IndieWire, 16 Aug. 2024
Cooley was a prosecutor straight out of central casting, as Trump might put it, gray-haired and a bit rumpled, who gave the impression of having witnessed more than his share of crime victims’ pain.
—Dan Morain, The Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2024
It was returned to me with its chiffon over-layer in shreds and my previously thriving silk buds were rumpled, drooping, and wilted—like a flower bed dug up by the neighbor’s dog.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 20 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for rumple
Ars Technica, 27 Dec. 2024
Her hair is frizzy, or her dress is rumpled, but that disheveledness was something that Turini wanted to explore in Maddie’s wardrobe to signify her lack of self.
—Kerensa Cadenas, IndieWire, 16 Aug. 2024
Cooley was a prosecutor straight out of central casting, as Trump might put it, gray-haired and a bit rumpled, who gave the impression of having witnessed more than his share of crime victims’ pain.
—Dan Morain, The Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2024
It was returned to me with its chiffon over-layer in shreds and my previously thriving silk buds were rumpled, drooping, and wilted—like a flower bed dug up by the neighbor’s dog.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 20 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for rumple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rumple
Verb
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Cause of crash is being investigated Videos of the accident show the carriage toppled to its side and crashed into a building on the steep and narrow street, with parts of the streetcar crumpled.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
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Last month, a Chinese coast guard vessel collided with a naval destroyer while attempting to drive away a Philippine patrol ship in the South China Sea, leaving its bow crumpled and twisted.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The slim fit of these long sleeves is perfect for tucking into bottoms, and the super-soft, stretchy fabric won’t wrinkle easily when folded into your travel bag.—
Amber Cardullo,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Aug. 2025
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After a nutria was tossed fifteen or twenty times, snotlike entrails began to protrude from the bullet holes, at which point Miss Louisiana, wrinkling her nose, would place it in a trash bucket and select a fresh carcass from the cooler.—
Nathaniel Rich,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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At the same time, concern is growing about how certain food additives and preservatives may disrupt the gut’s delicate balance.—
Abby Norman,
Verywell Health,
9 Sep. 2025
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Anders is disrupting financial services.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And some ankle booties with wedge heels might appear moderate, but can actually throw your weight onto the balls of your feet, scrunching your toes up against the toe box.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Aug. 2025
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Hiddleston scrunches his eyes a bit at the statement.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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With his brow perennially furrowed and hair slicked with sweat, Riley has the exact look and bearing of a suavely addled wrong-man figure from British thrillers of yore — and thus makes a suitably bemused proxy for the viewers in this wasteland of mounting chaos and absurdity.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
19 Aug. 2025
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Gnarled oak follows, its bark ridged and furrowed with age.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
2 July 2025
Verb
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Young Hamnet’s shuffling off this mortal coil once laid the groundwork for a masterpiece.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
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Shelters that shuffle people in and out overnight don’t solve anything.—
Stephan Rabimov,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Marswalker opens its fold-out front doors, and the S2 drives up into a central compartment before the doors close again to secure the S2 in place.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Sep. 2025
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Foldable smartphones typically have one hinge that allows a user to fold the device in half.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Whenever your look goes from airbrushed to a little too lived in—think smudging, creasing, and product settling into fine lines.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
28 Aug. 2025
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Flyer gone damp in his hand, creases shredding how cut cotton would.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rumple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rumple. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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