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Glite Dictionary
to tousle

to tousle

1 7.6
To make something messy, especially hair, by moving it with your hands
  • verb
  • /ˈtaʊzəl/
translation icon : despeinar
  • Kara tousles his blond hair and kisses his forehead.
  • tousle her hair

And this is just such a good get it at the root, tousle your hair up kind of an item.

Examples

  • "I know you do, honey," her father said more gently, reaching out to tousle her curly brown hair.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • "I had my remote reach over and tousle Mickey's hair."

    Fiction book (1998)

  • I'd kept out of her way for most of the day, although occasionally she'd walk by and tousle my hair.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Columbus tousles the boy's hair.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • "Here you go, lambie," she'd say, and lightly tousle his hair.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • "Good morning, beautiful," he said, walking onto the veranda, leaning down to kiss her and tousle her hair.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • A gentle breeze tousles his hair as he gazes up at the stars.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • PK looks up at Doc, who tousles his hair approvingly.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Nick tousles Alex's hair.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • He tousled her hair playfully after she won the game.

Synonyms

to tangle
vsto tousle
46 3.7

To twist things together so they are hard to pull apart

is about messy disorder from rough handling, not necessarily knotting
to dishevel
vsto tousle
2 8.1

To make someone's hair or clothes look untidy

is more about rough handling that messes hair
to ruffle up
vsto tousle
1 4.2

To make a smooth surface uneven or wrinkled

is about rough hand action causing general untidiness, not surface wrinkles
to fuffle
vsto tousle
  • Informal
9.9

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

is rougher and involves more vigorous hand messing

Antonyms

to neaten
1 3.7

To make something tidy by arranging things in order

How Messy

to dishevel
2 8.1
to tousle
1 7.6
to muss
6 7.9
to ruffle
7 4.2

Surface Forms

tousle infinitive
tousled past
tousled past participle
tousling present participle
tousles third person singular

Etymology

Tousle is a helpful word to remember because it sounds like toss and tussle, which suggest rough, messy movement. So, to tousle someone's hair is to 'toss' or 'mess' it up, leaving it 'untidy'.