ruffle
1 of 3verb
ruf·fle ˈrə-fəl 
ruffled; ruffling ˈrə-f(ə-)liŋ
transitive verb
1
a
: roughen, abrade
b
: trouble, vex
is not ruffled by such barbs
Bruce Anderson
Bruce Anderson2
: to erect in or like a ruff : to cause to rise or bristle
a bird ruffling its feathers
3
a
: to flip through
ruffle the pages of a book
b
: shuffle
4
: to make into a ruffle
intransitive verb
: to become ruffled
their dispositions ruffle perceptibly Life
Liferuffle
2 of 3noun (1)
1
: commotion, brawl
2
: a state or cause of irritation
3
a
: a strip of fabric gathered or pleated on one edge
b
: ruff entry 2 sense 2
4
: an unevenness or disturbance of surface : ripple
ruffly
ˈrə-f(ə-)lē
adjective ruffle
3 of 3noun (2)
: a low vibrating drumbeat less loud than a roll
Synonyms
Verb
- aggravate
- annoy
- bother
- bug
- burn (up)
- chafe
- eat
- exasperate
- frost
- gall
- get
- grate
- gripe
- hack (off)
- irk
- irritate
- itch
- nark [British]
- nettle
- peeve
- persecute
- pique
- put out
- rasp
- rile
- spite
- vex
Noun (1)
- flounce
- frill
- furbelow
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb Her hair was ruffled by the wind. He ruffled some people with his constant complaining.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English ruffelen; akin to Low German ruffelen to crumple
Noun (2)
ruff a drumbeat
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun (1)
1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
1694, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing ruffle
Kids Definition
ruffle 1 of 2
verb
ruf·fle ˈrə-fəl
ruffled; ruffling
1
: to move or lift so as to disturb the smoothness of
The waters of Bird Lake were ruffled by the strong, mighty wind … E. B. White, The Trumpet of the Swan
E. B. White, The Trumpet of the Swan2
: trouble entry 2 sense 1, vex You're so calm. Nothing ever ruffles you.
ruffle
2 of 2noun
: a strip of fabric gathered or pleated on one edge
ruffling
verb
as in annoying
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts the stream of minor complaints finally ruffled him into snapping, "If you don't like the way I'm doing it, do it yourself!" Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- annoying
- bothering
- irritating
- bugging
- persecuting
- getting
- riling
- nettling
- aggravating
- teasing
- angering
- irking
- eating
- exasperating
- rasping
- worrying
- itching
- provoking
- griping
- chafing
- infuriating
- grating
- frosting
- vexing
- insulting
- spiting
- galling
- narking
- piquing
- offending
- peeving
- harassing
- plaguing
- getting to
- wearing on
- upsetting
- antagonizing
- hassling
- putting out
- enraging
- rousing
- agitating
- badgering
- nagging
- sticking in one's craw
- pestering
- heckling
- getting on one's nerves
- rankling
- unsettling
- inflaming
- distressing
- burning (up)
- getting one's goat
- setting one's teeth on edge
- perturbing
- harrying
- roiling
- rubbing the wrong way
- hacking (off)
- outraging
- fretting
- incensing
- undoing
- enflaming
- baiting
- disquieting
- maddening
- affronting
- discomforting
- bullyragging
- ballyragging
- exercising
- unhinging
- deviling
- devilling
- discomposing
- hagriding
- miffing
- freaking (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- placating
- obliging
- pacifying
- appeasing
- conciliating
- mollifying
- gratifying
- delighting
- quieting
- assuring
- pleasing
- satisfying
- soothing
- reassuring
- comforting
- consoling
- propitiating
- cheering
- contenting
- gladdening
- solacing
- bearded tongue
- bearded tortoise
- bearded vulture
- bearded vultures
- bearded wheatgrass
- beardedness
- beardednesses
- bearder
- beardie
- beardies
- bearding
- bearding line
- bearding machine
- beardless
- beardless iris
- beardless wheat
- Beardmore
- beardowner
- beardownest
- beards
- Beardslee trout
- Beardsley
- beardsleyesque
- beardtongue
- beardtongues