kerfuffle
4 synonyms for kerfuffle, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A noisy fuss, upset, or commotion.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
Probably from Scots curfuffle, which can be broken down as ker- + fuffle, or possibly related to Irish cíor thuathail ("confusion, bewilderment"). It is similar to modern Welsh cythrwfl ("uproar, trouble, agitation").
Full origin of kerfuffle →