TOUSLED Synonyms: 167 Similar and Opposite Words

tousled 1 of 2

adjective

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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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 tousled

Adjective

As the latest iteration of her signature red tresses, these braids are just like the songs on her latest studio album, Blue Island—frayed, perfectly tousled, and free-flowing. — Sidney Madden, VIBE.com, 19 Aug. 2026 Unlike the classic bob, which favors a smooth and polished finish, the messy bob’s signature tousled style embraces texture. — Omenaa Boakye, InStyle, 13 Aug. 2026 The wolf cut, in particular, embraces a slightly messy, tousled finish, which Underwood says works in fine hair's favor. — Marci Robin, Allure, 11 Aug. 2026 The singer and actress, 33, received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, while looking like a true rockstar in a grungy gown with tousled hair complemented by sleek and smokey makeup that exclusively used Maybelline New York products. — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026 To style a shag haircut, use texturizing spray and run your fingers through your hair for a tousled look. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 July 2026 Even in detention, Chavez, with a head full of tousled black hair and big brown eyes, had an easy laugh and smile. — Mica Rosenberg, ProPublica, 6 July 2026 A little more tousled than a traditional pixie cut, the Winona Ryder pixie cut can be adjusted to suit your own personal style. — Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 17 June 2026 Tousled bob Kiera Knightley’s tousled bob is universally flattering on all face shapes. — Ranyechi Udemezue, Vogue, 12 June 2026

Verb

Son’s hair got tousled and nobody wearing black and gold could stop smiling. — Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2026 Like the French bob, the quintessential French pixie involves tousled loose waves and that effortless je-ne-sais-quoi attitude. — Audrey Noble, InStyle, 2 July 2026 Glam elements included Gerber’s hair tousled with a middle part and soft waves. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 8 June 2026 They were also joined in the auditorium by Boris Kudrin, who plays their teenage son Seryozha — at one point Mazurov tousled Kudrin’s hair. — Brent Lang, Variety, 19 May 2026 His hair is frosted at the tips, carefully tousled; his eyes are alert, amused, ever-probing. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 13 Apr. 2026 Her signature copper red hair, styled by Halley Brisker, was worn softly tousled down her back. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2026 Kardashian, 45, showed off a pair of ice-blue contact lenses and wore her chocolate brown hair tousled across her shoulders. — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026 Whether it was tousled by hand or pulled back in a tortoiseshell headband, Bessette’s length and color followed the same effortless code of her wardrobe, leaving us with enduring hair inspiration even after her untimely passing. — Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 5 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tousled

Adjective

Where there might be a nugget of truth (water-holding, adhesion, seed spacing), there are simpler, proven, and less messy alternatives.

— Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026
The game commenced with four unanswered scores from Jenks and sloppy play from Southlake Carroll that included a handful of early penalties, messy substitutions and a lack of rhythm.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of messy

Verb

Efforts to bring the outbreak under control — from limited public gatherings to social distancing and airport closures — have disrupted life in the six affected provinces, particularly Ituri, which has been ravaged by rebel violence.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
The choices of what to put in each episode — and when to cut from one timeline to another — have sometimes felt arbitrary, and have often disrupted the story’s overall flow.

— Noel Murray, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of disrupted

Verb

Cirque Dreams, which also offers several other touring shows, used to be regularly confused with Cirque du Soleil strictly because of the similarity of their names.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026
Earlier, on direct examination, Heilbrun said it may be confused with psychosis.

— Melina Khan, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of confused

Adjective

In the past, her songs were so littered with personal details that listening felt voyeuristic.

— Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2026
The series does not touch on the tabloid attention that followed the Beckhams in 2004, when it was alleged that David had an affair with his personal assistant, Rebecca Loos, and the many further accusations of cheating that littered gossip columns after.

— Scarlett Harris, Time, 9 Oct. 2025

Definition of littered

Verb

As a parent who has purchased my share of scary Halloween costumes, I was particularly disturbed by the controversy now engulfing Target.

— Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2026
If disturbed, asbestos’ microscopic crystalline fibers get into the air, where they can be inhaled, cause lung scarring and lead to fatal cancers.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of disturbed

Adjective

There was a celebration of what Daniels can do at any point, which is to cover up inconsistency and sloppy execution by others with his extraordinary talent.

— Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
The Chargers looked sloppy in their 41-17 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers last week, following an inspiring 27-7 road win over the Houston Texans, and now aim for a better on-field product in their final tuneup.

— Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of sloppy

Verb

Finally, the next season, Karlsson was shuffled frequently between Abbotsford and Vancouver and resided at the fringes of the NHL lineup.

— Thomas Drance, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Venegas scrolled through his phone while Penna shuffled past us to grab a drink from the office fridge.

— Christine Terrisse, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of shuffled

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“Tousled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tousled. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of tousled

adjective

verb

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