tousled 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of touslednext
as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness a tousled pile of yarn and material scraps at the bottom of her craft box

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tousled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of tousle
as in disrupted
to undo the proper order or arrangement of his grandfather would always tousle the boy's neatly combed hair

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tousled
  1. messy
  2. disrupted
  3. chaotic
  4. confused
  5. shuffled
  6. shaggy
  7. disturbed
  8. sloppy
Adjective
  • Orlando took the helm of the memorial effort in late 2023 amid the messy collapse of the private onePulse foundation.
    — Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Data preparation tasks—from cleaning messy data to integrating disparate sources—consume a lot of time and effort for data teams.
    — Suri Nuthalapati, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of messy
Verb
  • Injuries, however, have disrupted Caruso’s plans.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2025
  • Flights in late afternoon are more likely to be disrupted.
    — Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
Definition of disrupted
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, the White House’s on-again, off-again approach to tariffs with our major trading partners is so chaotic, it can barely be called a policy.
    — MoneyShow, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The result is a topsy-turvy movie that is also spiritually profound in ways that the Marvel and DC franchises don’t dare but that became abstruse and chaotic in Snyder’s many Rebel Moon iterations.
    — Armond White, National Review, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of chaotic
Verb
  • Many people get confused by these forms which contain code and jargon that rarely offer a clear explanation of anything.
    — Steve Weisman, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Not to be confused with DEI training, skill building is a way to help people improve their communication skills, negotiation style and overall understanding of relevant topics, all while leveling up professionally.
    — Doug Melville, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Definition of confused
Verb
  • Stop Scripting Development Employees need to grow into opportunities, not be shuffled into roles.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Analysts at Mizuho shuffled up its top picks in a note Monday.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2025
Definition of shuffled
Adjective
  • Close on either side were eerie woods flooded with shallow swamp water, the trees’ shaggy trunks festooned with air plants and the occasional ghost orchid.
    — Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Natasha Lyonne, who’s back as shaggy amateur detective Charlie Cale, was floored watching Erivo dip in and out of so many roles, which include a DJ, a professor, an artist, and an apple picker.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of shaggy
Verb
  • Plants with vining stems or long tap roots can be difficult to transplant and other plants simply don’t like to have their roots disturbed after planting.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2025
  • The relationship quickly unearthed something that disturbed him.
    — Joshua Kaplan, ProPublica, 4 Jan. 2025
Definition of disturbed
Adjective
  • The latest: The Cavs looked sloppy and tired at points this week, but still gutted out comeback wins against Miami, Charlotte and Brooklyn.
    — Sam Allard, Axios, 12 Mar. 2025
  • There’s also the possibility that when you get fatigued, your muscles may not be as able to fully support your knee, and your footwork can get sloppier, making the possibility of an awkward twist all the more likely.
    — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of sloppy
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Tousled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tousled. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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