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Glite Dictionary
😠 To upset slightly 👗 A frilled trim 🌊 To make uneven 🧵 To gather cloth 🃏 To mix randomly 🦚 To walk proudly
to ruffle

to ruffle

1 4.7
Mix cards so their order becomes random
  • verb
  • /ˈrʌfəl/
translation icon : mezclar
  • It would have been polite for Cristian Grecu to reach out his hand and pick the notebook up from there and ruffle its pages for a moment, despite the impossibility of reading it under the natural and invisible light of the stars.

It does rough ruffle things around and brings things up that have been buried, which is terrifying.

Examples

  • And when the light comes in the window, it hits those, the light sensor, it plays some music and turns on the motor to ruffle your hair to wake you up in the morning.

  • Her tiny hands ruffled deftly through the clothing.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • So I use the longer side and just kind of like ruffle the feathers a bit.

  • I, in order to not ruffle the feathers of my family, I really built my own life.

  • It does rough ruffle things around and brings things up that have been buried, which is terrifying.

    Rich Roll

  • A peacekeeping forces noncom sat near the boy, smoothing a lock of ruffled hair.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • THE WIND LOOKS A BIT TO RUFFLE OUR SAILS, EH?

    Scarecrow (1973)

  • He ruffled the cards together before dealing them for the game.

  • As she ruffled the salad, the dressing coated every leaf evenly.

  • The teacher ruffled the worksheets before handing them out to the class.

Synonyms

to mix
vsto ruffle
365 1.0

Change the order of things so they are random

focuses on doing this by stirring, tossing, or shuffling motions
to stir
vsto ruffle
152 1.0

To mix a liquid by moving it with a spoon

focuses on creating randomness in arrangement, not only liquid blending
to toss
vsto ruffle
94 1.4

To move about in a violent or restless way

creates random order but often by gentler, controlled mixing actions
to scramble
vsto ruffle
85 2.6

Mix eggs quickly while cooking until they become soft and fluffy

creates randomness too but with less emphasis on vigorous motion
to mix up
vsto ruffle
  • Informal
65 2.7

To make people confused and things messy

means physical random ordering rather than chiefly causing confusion
to mingle
vsto ruffle
34 3.3

Mix together so things join and are hard to tell apart

aims for random ordering rather than thorough blending into one mix
to randomize
vsto ruffle
  • Specialized
24 6.1

Arrange something in no particular order, often to give each item an equal chance

does the same randomness but in everyday physical mixing situations
to jumble
vsto ruffle
22 3.8

Mix things together in a confused way

involves specific stirring or tossing methods to produce random order
to shuffle
vsto ruffle
20 2.7

To mix things like cards or songs so their order is random

applies the same random ordering but by general stirring or tossing actions
to tumble
vsto ruffle
3 3.4

To put things together in a mixed and untidy pile

produces random arrangement but usually by deliberate mixing actions
to toss together
vsto ruffle
  • Informal
2 3.4

Mix a few ingredients quickly without much preparation

aims for random order but can be more deliberate or varied in method
to fuffle
vsto ruffle
  • Informal
9.9

To make hair, clothes, or papers untidy by moving them

creates a randomized arrangement rather than merely rumpling surfaces

Antonyms

to organize
  • US
662 1.6

Arrange people, things, and activities so they work well

Idioms

to ruffle some feathers
  • Informal
9 7.2

Upset people by challenging usual views

Phrasal Verbs

to ruffle up
1 4.2

To make a smooth surface uneven or wrinkled

How Mixed

to ruffle
1 4.7
to stir
152 1.0

Surface Forms

ruffle infinitive
ruffled past
ruffled past participle
ruffling present participle
ruffles third person singular

Morphology

ruffle = ruff (transparent) = ruff + le

The sense 'to mix or disorder (e.g., papers)' follows from making something ruffled or disordered, a direct extension of the base action.

Etymology

The verb ruffle also took on the idea of mixing or stirring things roughly, like when you shuffle cards or tickets. So to ruffle a deck is to change the order by mixing or shuffling the cards.