to rumple

Examples

• All

• Against the far wall, fourteen-year-old Josh's bed was rumpled but empty.

  Fiction book (2001)

• His uniform, too, reflected his fatigue, always rumpled and creased as it was.

  Fiction book (2000)

• His suit was rumpled, and there were deep circles under his eyes.

  Fiction book (1998)

• Joe comes into the galley, his hair still rumpled from sleeping on it.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Her face was pale, her hair rumpled and whipping in the wind.

  Fiction book (1995)

• Michael's khaki raincoat was rumpled behind as if he'd been sleeping in it.

  Fiction book (1997)

• Mac glanced warily at the rumpled bedding on the bunk.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Sebasten Januarias emerged, looking rumpled, scrubbing at his eyes like a schoolboy.

  Fiction book (1990)

• After the long flight, her blouse was rumpled and needed ironing.

• He ran his fingers through his rumpled hair, trying to look more presentable.

Synonyms

W

to wrinkle

vsto rumple

56 2.1

To make a small fold in cloth, paper, or skin

is the broader act of making fabric or hair messy with folds

M

to mess up

vsto rumple

• Informal

52 3.0

To make something untidy, dirty, or not in the right place

focuses specifically on creating folds and messy lines rather than general disorder

C

to crumple

vsto rumple

29 3.4

Get folded and wrinkled when pressed, like paper or cloth

is less forceful and often means just make material a bit messy

P

to pucker

vsto rumple

25 5.2

To make small wrinkles in skin or cloth

is broader, covering messiness beyond tightly gathered small folds

C

to crease

vsto rumple

18 2.3

To make a line in cloth or paper by folding it

is less technical and covers rougher, messier folding or creasing

C

to crinkle

vsto rumple

12 3.7

Form small lines on paper, skin, or cloth

covers both small and larger messy folds rather than only tiny lines

S

to scrunch

vsto rumple

• Informal

9 5.5

Squeeze something until it becomes wrinkled or folded

is similar but more general, not always involving strong squeezing

R

to ruffle

vsto rumple

7 4.2

Disturb a smooth surface so small waves appear

is more about general messiness and loose, irregular folds

K

to knit

vsto rumple

3 4.2

To bring the eyebrows together to make small lines on the forehead

is wider, including loose messy folding not only contracting lines

R

to ruffle up

vsto rumple

1 4.2

To make a smooth surface uneven or wrinkled

is broader, often meaning larger messy folds or disorder

R

to ruckle

vsto rumple

9.9

To make small folds in cloth by pressing or gathering it

is similar but used more generally for making things untidy

R

to ruck up

vsto rumple

8.4

To become wrinkled and folded into small ridges

describes the same change but can also mean making things messy

C

to cockle

vsto rumple

9.5

To make a surface form small waves or ripples

is about general creasing and messy appearance rather than waves

Antonyms

S

smooth

1 5.8

An act of making a surface even by rubbing or pressing

How Wrinkled

to crumple

29 3.4

to rumple

6 5.4

to crease

18 2.3

Surface Forms

Etymology