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
Relevance
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
Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 11 Mar. 2026
Unlike a blunt bob which favors sharp lines, the softer pageboy bob invites tousled texture.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 3 Mar. 2026
However, a teenager might simply identify sentences and structure, but after several years of living, loving and obsessing over someone with tousled hair, that now-adult might find their experiences affirmed, perhaps even blatantly, through a 178-year-old novel.
—Hannah Benson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
The pop star completed her ethereal look with a softly tousled hairstyle and delicate drop earrings.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026
Rahal emerges from his desk, tall, with a shadowy scruff, tousled brown locks, and piercing blue eyes.
—Sophia Herring, Vanity Fair, 28 Jan. 2026
Her hair was styled in loose, tousled waves.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 5 Mar. 2026
As for beauty, Curtis tousled her white pixie about for an effortless feel.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026
Winn has a lean, tan face and tousled blond hair befitting his California lifestyle.
—Sarah Todd, STAT, 20 Feb. 2026
Her dark pixie crop was curled and tousled, with strong eyebrows, and feline-like eye makeup.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 14 Jan. 2026
Her hair was bleach blonde, tousled and pulled back for the mirror selfie.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
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
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
This is due to its tousled finish and the slight Bardot-esque bouffant at the back.
—Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 11 Mar. 2026
Unlike a blunt bob which favors sharp lines, the softer pageboy bob invites tousled texture.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 3 Mar. 2026
However, a teenager might simply identify sentences and structure, but after several years of living, loving and obsessing over someone with tousled hair, that now-adult might find their experiences affirmed, perhaps even blatantly, through a 178-year-old novel.
—Hannah Benson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
The pop star completed her ethereal look with a softly tousled hairstyle and delicate drop earrings.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026
Rahal emerges from his desk, tall, with a shadowy scruff, tousled brown locks, and piercing blue eyes.
—Sophia Herring, Vanity Fair, 28 Jan. 2026
Her hair was styled in loose, tousled waves.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
Whether it was tousled by hand or pulled back in a tortoiseshell headband, Bessette’s length and color followed the same effortless code of her wardrobe, leaving us with enduring hair inspiration even after her untimely passing.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 5 Mar. 2026
As for beauty, Curtis tousled her white pixie about for an effortless feel.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026
Winn has a lean, tan face and tousled blond hair befitting his California lifestyle.
—Sarah Todd, STAT, 20 Feb. 2026
Her dark pixie crop was curled and tousled, with strong eyebrows, and feline-like eye makeup.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 14 Jan. 2026
Her hair was bleach blonde, tousled and pulled back for the mirror selfie.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
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
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
-
The people in it are depicted as messy, earnest, and trying their best.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
-
And finally, take really messy or stinky items straight to the outdoor trash can.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The war with Iran has disrupted oil production and distribution as the Islamic Republic targets shipping traffic and energy infrastructure with the intention of inflicting economic pain on its adversaries.—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
-
But the war with Iran has also disrupted some key air shipping lanes, particularly to Europe.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In recent years, south suburban Dolton and Thornton Township have become synonymous with political dysfunction — chaotic public meetings, allegations of financial impropriety, and residents stuck with deficits and unpaid bills.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
-
At Chicago O’Hare International Airport, a CNN reporter saw chaotic scenes, with passengers shuffling from line to line.—
Amanda Musa,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But to be fair, if worn independently, any of these products could be easily confused for any standard accessory thanks to smaller chips and sensors.—
Brian Cheung,
NBC news,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Brad Pitt once confused DiCaprio's parents for extras.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
The hornets are extremely aggressive when the nest is disturbed.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Danita Hoskin, president of the Crown Hill Neighborhood Association, said that she was disturbed to learn recently that her neighborhood's life expectancy is more than 15 years shorter than for those who live north of 38th Street, according to the Polis Center at Indiana University Indianapolis.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Penguins were sloppy in the defensive zone and didn’t put the Flyers away on the power play.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
A couple sloppy Westlake possessions have given the Lady Tigers the momentum.—
American-Statesman staff,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As children from the synagogue were shuffled to safety, nearby West Bloomfield Schools were under a shelter-in-place order from police.—
John Wisely,
Freep.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Samson Fellows shuffled in his slippers to a small space heater and flicked it on.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tousled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tousled. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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