as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
a tousled pile of yarn and material scraps at the bottom of her craft box
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in disrupted
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
his grandfather would always tousle the boy's neatly combed hair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tousled
Brittany Talarico, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Since then, she’s been spotted in tousled recession blonde at the 2025 AMAs, a proper banged bob at Cannes, and in one of her latest looks, snake eyes and a superfine pixie cut at the Met Gala.
—Essence, 24 Oct. 2025
Her tousled hair and smoky cat eye are callbacks to the divisive cover of her new album, Man’s Best Friend.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 23 Sep. 2025
In his ’70s heyday, few actors possessed Redford’s star wattage, aided considerably by his tousled blond locks, granite jaw and million-dollar smile.
—Steve Chagollan, Variety, 16 Sep. 2025
Emma, meanwhile, pulled her hair back into a low, tousled ponytail.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Go big and bold like Cardi, try a romantic, tousled twist like Martha Stewart, or consider Hailey Bieber's tight, knotted ballerina bun, which the Rhode founder has been wearing on repeat.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 5 Sep. 2025
Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2025
Her blonde locks were tousled, parted down the center and gently flowed down her shoulders and back.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
Look at Jimmy Fallon, who steered clear of the wrong jokes and tousled the right hair, and is still catching all-caps strays on Truth Social.
—James Folta
september 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
His rock-star-meets-poet vibe, complete with a tousled mullet and tiny hoop earrings.
—Brittany Talarico, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Since then, she’s been spotted in tousled recession blonde at the 2025 AMAs, a proper banged bob at Cannes, and in one of her latest looks, snake eyes and a superfine pixie cut at the Met Gala.
—Essence, 24 Oct. 2025
Her tousled hair and smoky cat eye are callbacks to the divisive cover of her new album, Man’s Best Friend.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 23 Sep. 2025
In his ’70s heyday, few actors possessed Redford’s star wattage, aided considerably by his tousled blond locks, granite jaw and million-dollar smile.
—Steve Chagollan, Variety, 16 Sep. 2025
Emma, meanwhile, pulled her hair back into a low, tousled ponytail.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Go big and bold like Cardi, try a romantic, tousled twist like Martha Stewart, or consider Hailey Bieber's tight, knotted ballerina bun, which the Rhode founder has been wearing on repeat.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
In that original viral campaign launch video, a bearded Platner, his strawberry blonde hair tousled, introduced Maine voters to the issues central to his platform, namely, broad economic populism, taxing billionaires, and universal healthcare.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2025
Her blonde locks were tousled, parted down the center and gently flowed down her shoulders and back.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
Look at Jimmy Fallon, who steered clear of the wrong jokes and tousled the right hair, and is still catching all-caps strays on Truth Social.
—James Folta
september 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tousled
Adjective
-
But a big, beautiful, and sometimes messy public square that belongs to us all.—
Yolanda Watson Spiva,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The best heroes are beloved because their choices — admirable, messy, or otherwise — are hard ones made in service of something greater.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The shutdown has disrupted federal operations, delayed pay for hundreds of thousands of workers, and put critical programs at risk.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
-
If the shutdown has not been resolved at the end of this week, there is a big risk Thanksgiving travel could be disrupted, said Henry Harteveldt, president of Atmosphere Research Group.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Paul’s chaotic yet candid nature quickly uplifted her to reality TV icon status, so much so that ABC named her their next star of The Bachelorette.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Dispatch recordings from firefighters who were first on the scene at Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra’s home early Thursday reveal a chaotic and fast-moving fire that left crews scrambling to find water and to contain the spreading flames.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Farmers’ Almanac will be gone for good after its final 2026 edition, not to be confused with The Old Farmer's Almanac, a separate publication.—
Alex Perry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
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Blue Origin also launches New Shepard from Texas The New Glenn spacecraft is not to be confused with Blue Origin's much smaller New Shepard rocket that the company launches from West Texas on brief trips taking paying passengers high above Earth's atmosphere.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The series does not touch on the tabloid attention that followed the Beckhams in 2004, when it was alleged that David had an affair with his personal assistant, Rebecca Loos, and the many further accusations of cheating that littered gossip columns after.—
Scarlett Harris,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
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Cigarette butts are the most littered item on the planet.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The whales' communication can be disturbed by underwater noise made by humans, and the interference often deters them from certain crucial areas, like breeding and feeding locations.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
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For instance, Bella's first meeting with Edward in their biology class is supposed to be this unnerving moment, where Bella is disturbed by Edward's apparent repulsion toward her.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The soft knit fabric drapes just right, giving that relaxed vibe without looking sloppy.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
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Practice had been a bit a sloppy at times, but San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher had a wide smile anyway Thursday afternoon.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In September, Spotify added the ability to free users search for and play specific songs, rather than being forced to head directly to shuffled playlists or albums, though users were limited to one song at a time before the app started to shuffle.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
8 Nov. 2025
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The Royals shuffled their hitting department after the 2025 season concluded.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tousled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tousled. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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