as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
a rumpled room that suited its teenage occupant just fine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in crumpled
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in disrupted
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
the aunt would invariably rumple the little boy's hair whenever she came to visit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rumpled
Anahid Nersessian, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Based on the spy thrillers by Mick Herron, the series focuses on rumpled MI5 agent Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman) and his misfit spy team.
—Carole Horst, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
One of the first celebrities to be regularly photographed in her everyday clothes, Birkin was an early icon of street style, traipsing around Paris in sneakers and rumpled sweaters, wicker basket in hand.
—Anahid Nersessian, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Based on the spy thrillers by Mick Herron, the series focuses on rumpled MI5 agent Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman) and his misfit spy team.
—Carole Horst, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rumpled
Adjective
-
With the success of TV shows like Hacks and The White Lotus, which explore the beautifully complicated, often messy inner lives of women who don’t fit the ingenue mold, perhaps more production companies will take chances on similar shows.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Jars of thick honey can feel messy or impractical for travel.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
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
Verb
-
Europe accelerated spending on renewables and energy efficiency after Russia's invasion of Ukraine disrupted natural gas supplies.—
Jeff Young,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Foreign business confidence in China has declined since Covid-19 when pandemic restrictions disrupted supply chains — the domestic economy has remained sluggish, dragged down by a real estate slump and overcapacity in industrial sectors.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The Creative Arts Emmys, held on September 6 and 7, had already handed out several exciting awards, including for Bryan Cranston’s guest turn on The Studio and Julianne Nicholson’s chaotic arc on Hacks.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
15 Sep. 2025
-
After several chaotic minutes with no cell phone service, mother and daughter finally reunited next to the plaza.—
Rick Jervis,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Kavya tugs on my arm, her nose is scrunched up, eyebrows discombobulated.—
Navdeep Singh Dhillon,
Parents,
21 Aug. 2025
-
An image of his little face, scrunched in discomfort, but no sound coming from his little mouth, was instantly clear.—
Zoë Jones,
Vogue,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Every plot point is wrinkled or changed in some fundamental way.—
Joe Lynch,
Billboard,
18 Oct. 2024
-
The vinyl decals, featuring salmon crying to get beyond the first of the dams, were wrinkled, the banner itself battle-scarred in places.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
The Arizona Republic,
12 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
At one point, O’Steen was confused by a question, and the resulting back-and-forth was reminiscent of an Abbott and Costello repartee.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Sep. 2025
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It should not be confused with Article 5, the cornerstone of the alliance, which states an armed attack on one NATO ally will be considered an act of violence against all members and prompt assistance to the member concerned.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rumpled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rumpled. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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