ruffling

verb

present participle of ruffle
as in bothering
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of ruffling Plus, Jackson spent much of the campaign railing against the status quo, ruffling GOP establishment feathers along the way. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Adding more drama to the lingerie look, Waterhouse wore a light pink tulle boudoir-style robe with ruffling. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 24 July 2026 Mayor Dean Trantalis, Commissioner Steven Glassman and Commissioner John Herbst took issue with her leadership, accusing her of being dismissive to subordinates and ruffling too many feathers. — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026 The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization quickly followed suit, shelving the project that had been in the works for over a decade and ruffling feathers at the state level and among business leaders. — Nicholas Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2026 At times, Musk’s avoidance tactics shut down lines of questioning, ruffling Savitt’s feathers. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026 Below, during a conversation with THR, Cronin also discusses his unique ability to deliver gore without ruffling the MPA’s feathers. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 20 Apr. 2026 When the weather is warm, the best tables are those in the meditative interior courtyard open to blue sky, drifting clouds and the breeze ruffling sudare screens. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Mar. 2026 But the second set featured the sport’s ultimate heel ruffling feathers once again, when Medvedev won a point on a controversial hindrance call. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruffling
  1. bothering
  2. annoying
  3. bugging
  4. irritating
  5. persecuting
  6. getting
  7. aggravating
Verb
  • Some interns hesitate to contact their former colleagues for fear of bothering them, but most people are eager to help out young talent.
    — Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Contreras rarely takes days off but asked for a day off Sunday with his leg bothering him.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of bothering
Verb
  • Kids in all three countries loved learning dances from TikTok and annoying their siblings.
    — Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Of course, this would depend on whether the managers choose to pick their strongest teams in what for some is a meaningless, even annoying extra fixture, for squads who just want to go home.
    — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 18 July 2026
Definition of annoying
Verb
  • However, in-flight cabin etiquette is only one part of what’s bugging travelers this summer.
    — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The necessity of the trip at all is what's been bugging me.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026
Definition of bugging
Verb
  • Oh, and don’t worry about sparkles irritating your gaze—the formula is ophthalmologist-tested.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Be sure to use a fragrance-free, gentle detergent to avoid irritating sensitive skin with any residue.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of irritating
Verb
  • Biden weaponized Law Enforcement against his political opponent, while also persecuting many other innocent people.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 11 June 2026
  • Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally.
    — Isaac Butler, New Yorker, 30 May 2026
Definition of persecuting
Verb
  • Yankees fans might be getting flashbacks of Boone’s defense for Anthony Volpe, who similarly faded into inconsistency after emerging as the apparent heir to the franchise’s shortstop role.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • And with 11 billion tons of freight moved by truck in 2024, the stakes of getting safety right extend far beyond the competition floor.
    — Alice Barlow, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of getting
Verb
  • But Leclerc stayed out for several laps, aggravating Hamilton in the process.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026
  • While Samuel caught 1-of-2 targets in his preseason debut, Mike Evans remained in street clothes after aggravating a quadriceps in Tuesday’s joint practice.
    — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of aggravating

Browse Nearby Words

ruffles
ruffling
ruffs
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Cite this Entry

“Ruffling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruffling. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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