ruffle
20 synonyms and 5 antonyms for ruffle, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A gathered, frilled strip of fabric used as decoration on clothing.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
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.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A gathered, frilled strip of fabric used as decoration on clothing.
“The dress had delicate ruffles along the hem.”
How to use ruffle
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
ruffle feathers
ruffle someone's hair
ruffled sleeves
Etymology
From Middle English ruffelen, of Germanic origin, related to words meaning "to wrinkle" or "to graze."
Full origin of ruffle →Frequently asked questions
What does “ruffle” mean?
The word “ruffle” means a gathered, frilled strip of fabric used as decoration on clothing. In plain terms, to make something (or someone) less smooth or calm — literally messing up fabric or feathers, or figuratively annoying someone.
How do you pronounce “ruffle”?
“Ruffle” is pronounced RUH-fuhl (/ˈɹʌfəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “ruffle” in a sentence?
Here is “ruffle” used in a sentence: “The dress had delicate ruffles along the hem.”
What part of speech is “ruffle”?
Depending on how it is used, “ruffle” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “ruffle” come from?
The word “ruffle” comes from Middle English. From Middle English ruffelen, of Germanic origin, related to words meaning "to wrinkle" or "to graze.".
How many meanings does “ruffle” have?
“Ruffle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a gathered, frilled strip of fabric used as decoration on clothing.
