1
as in crumpling
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in disrupting
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rumpling
Verb
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Moses Moody scored 23 points before crumpling to the floor with an apparently serious left knee injury late in overtime as the Golden State Warriors beat Dallas 137-131 on Monday night, extending the Mavericks' home losing streak to 12 games, their longest in 32 years.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026 -
The Material steak knives arrived sharp, slicing through a piece of paper rather than crumpling its edge.—
Emily Johnson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Also wrinkling matters is Eiza González as Nick’s wife Alice, who also happens to be Mike’s secret lover.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
2 Apr. 2026
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The report noted wrinkling on Smith’s hands from water immersion, according to People.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The hospitality union represents roughly 2,000 workers at the arena, potentially disrupting one of the biggest sporting events in the world.—
Luzdelia Caballero,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
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In such a case, if the people passing the message did not have complete control of their devices, an outsider could potentially subtly change the particles’ entanglement, disrupting the communication without leaving a trace.—
Matt von Hippel,
Quanta Magazine,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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He could be seen scrunching his face in anticipation.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
27 Dec. 2025
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Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the ground and use your toes to grab and curl the towel toward you, scrunching it up several times before switching sides.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
26 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The Bruins are shuffling off to Buffalo.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
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The Philadelphia Phillies are shuffling up the bullpen by sending Seth Johnson back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and recalling Chase Shugart from the IronPigs.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors said police found a folding blade knife, brass knuckles, a hammer and a bowing knife in the home, as well as a large bottle of bleach.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
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In small spaces, pair it with nesting tables and folding chairs.—
Jessica Bennett,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Flexi-form technology prevents creasing, while light refracting pigments blur the look of fine lines and texture.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
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The key here is to look for smart fits and dressy details, including creasing, pleating, and even embroidery.—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Little green men are disturbing Kacey Musgraves’ golden hour.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
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The host of a popular paranormal podcast begins to be haunted by disturbing recordings sent to her anonymously.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Rumpling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rumpling. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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