rumpled 1 of 2

rumpled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of rumple

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 rumpled
Adjective
As a prime example of grunge-girl hair, era icon Alexa Chung has perfected the balance between rumpled and refined. Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 9 Aug. 2026 After the meeting, fire officials welcome questions one-on-one in front of large maps of the region, overlaid by the rumpled edges of the fire. Sarah Matusek, Christian Science Monitor, 7 July 2026 Years of unpacking creased, rumpled clothing and settling on a lesser-cute backup outfit have taught me to prioritize building my travel wardrobe around wrinkle-free pieces. Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 12 June 2026 Erika’s brother, Klaus (August Diehl), sits naked by a rumpled bed with last night’s conquest still muddled up with his sheets, talking on the phone to his sister. Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 14 May 2026 Because this is a Jean-Luc Godard film, only Lemmy Caution (Eddie Constantine), a rumpled American private eye who seems to have stepped straight out of one of the classic Hollywood noirs Godard loved. Keith Phipps, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026 Vanessa Bonet of the installation art group Dedo Vabo watched over a mission-control monitor deck, as the buzzing craft climbed into room full of braying hippos in rumpled suits. Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026 Both the oak and walnut speak to traditional Japandi styles, and both would look particularly handsome with a rumpled, fluffy set of TEKLA sheets to polish off the cozy look. Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 16 Mar. 2026 Several of the most striking photographs in the book are of the studio itself, which appears empty except for a pair of high heels reflected in a wall of mirrors or a rumpled military blanket, a favorite backdrop, pinned to a bare wall. Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
Edward Juvier is raspy and rumpled as the imperious theater producer Bela Zangler. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2026 The silver hide rumpled and stretched over the massive body. Anton Money, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026 When his teams didn’t entertain, Moe became the show, this cursing, grumbling, rumpled 6-foot-5 firebrand who dressed like a ’70s private detective, a disheveled anti-hero who detested suits. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026 He was rumpled in the summer heat and wearing a collarless white shirt. Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rumpled
Adjective
  • Football is a messy game with far too many variables for one statistic to ever fully grasp.
    Austin Mock, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The districts' policies are part of a messy patchwork of new laws and guidelines that have spread across the United States, leaving inconsistent rules state-by-state, or even district-by-district.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Inflation is part of the show, as across the valley floor, enormous envelopes lie crumpled in fields before fans slowly give them shape—then the burners start, sending pulses of orange through the fabric.
    Scott Campbell, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
  • According to National Geographic, as the Arabian plate began to move further under the Eurasian plate, the two plates crumpled together, creating the Zagros Mountains — an impressive stretch of peaks that still exist in Iran.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • At the combine, as executives and scouts furrowed their brows and furtively took notes, Mann and I stood on the concourse, watching team personnel watch prospects work out.
    Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
  • They were furrowed throughout his testimony.
    Tom Dotan, Vanity Fair, 17 May 2026
Verb
  • About 8% of the diesel needed to supply global demand of 28 million barrels per day is disrupted right now, said Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates, in an email to CNBC.
    Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
  • In the scenario, critical infrastructure in the central Finnish city of Kuopio, including power and water, has been disrupted by cyberattacks and there’s the threat of missile strikes from Finland’s neighbor, Russia.
    Emma Burrows, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Local officials said the scene on the ground was chaotic, with multiple people taken to area hospitals.
    Chandelis Duster, NPR, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Gilbertson’s involvement in the ports grew out of a series of chaotic mergers that in the 1990s led to endless disputes among shippers and the railroads about whose cargo would move first.
    John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • As the players headed to their benches and the officials took their customary walks to the scorer’s table for the time out, Atkinson scrunched his face, stuck out his hands, and mockingly clapped toward Blair — who ignored the obvious taunt.
    Joe Vardon, New York Times, 11 May 2026
  • Louis' scrunched up face got an affectionate giggle out of his dad as the two sat side-by-side at the 80th anniversary of VE Day in 2025.
    Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Crafted from quality linen, the dress has earned praise from shoppers for its high-quality fabric that’s easy to wash and doesn’t look overly wrinkled.
    Jacquelyn McGilvray, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Unfortunately, linen is well-known for being easily wrinkled, and proper washing is crucial to maintain the integrity of linen.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 27 July 2026
Verb
  • Not to be confused with inverted full backs, an inverted winger is a wide player who is used on the opposite side of the pitch to their strong foot — so a left-footer on the right or a right-footer on the left.
    Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • William does not want the public confused about who officially represents the King.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 8 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rumpled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rumpled. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster