How to Use tousle in a Sentence

tousle

verb
  • She tousled the little boy's hair.
  • Jeans and boots—and tousled hair—are de rigueur at both places.
    — Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit, 13 Apr. 2017
  • Give yourself a few good sprays, than tousle your hair with your fingers.
    — Kristi Kellogg, Teen Vogue, 20 Sep. 2017
  • Her hair was bleach blonde, tousled and pulled back for the mirror selfie.
    — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
  • Owner stated landing was very rough and the dog may have been tousled around.
    — Matt Rocheleau, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Mar. 2018
  • Harry looks like his usual rocker self in a ringer tee, tousled hair, and lots of rings.
    — Kara Nesvig, Teen Vogue, 25 June 2018
  • In front of him was a woman with her face thrown up to the sky, her hands rising as if to tousle her hair.
    — Amanda Hess, New York Times, 11 May 2020
  • His hair is barely style-able, but notice that his stylist left some fringe in the front, styled and tousled with a pinch of clay.
    — Adam Hurly, GQ, 11 Apr. 2018
  • The singer’s hair was tousled with natural waves that cascaded down her back.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
  • Her dark pixie crop was curled and tousled, with strong eyebrows, and feline-like eye makeup.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 14 Jan. 2026
  • Her blonde locks were tousled, parted down the center and gently flowed down her shoulders and back.
    — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Her peplum jacket and skirt with white embroidery were also tousled in the wind.
    — Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2023
  • The supermodel wore her signature blonde hair long and tousled, with a dense set of bangs.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 15 Nov. 2025
  • Since the big bob chop, she's been sporting her short hair in a myriad of ways—including tousled and sleek styles.
    — Maya Allen, Marie Claire, 10 Dec. 2019
  • His hair is frosted at the tips, carefully tousled; his eyes are alert, amused, ever-probing.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The wind rose and fell in heavy gusts; Lim’s hair, tousled even indoors, grew still more animated.
    — Samanth Subramanian, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2017
  • Lucy Hale's lob is tousled ever so slightly to lend some volume on top and give it an air of not trying too hard.
    — Krista Carter, InStyle, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Another girl sits on a bed, her face drawn into a deep frown, blood covering her jeans, her long brown hair tousled and loose.
    — New York Times, 6 Nov. 2019
  • As for beauty, Curtis tousled her white pixie about for an effortless feel.
    — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Saunders' son decides to get in the middle of the pair, and when Monroe tousles his hair, the boxer gets a shot to the groin.
    — Charles Curtis, USA TODAY, 15 Sep. 2017
  • Getting out of bed with the perfect post-hookup hair — tousled, undone, rumpled — is one of those things that only happens on-screen.
    — Samantha Sasso, refinery29.com, 6 June 2018
  • To keep your 'do from looking like 'work hair,' spray it with light hold hair spray while tousling it with your fingers before the holiday party!
    — Devin Toth, Redbook, 8 Dec. 2011
  • There is some activity on the side of Walnut Hill and Marsh tousled by the winds.
    — Robert Wilonsky, Dallas News, 17 Jan. 2020
  • Winn has a lean, tan face and tousled blond hair befitting his California lifestyle.
    — Sarah Todd, STAT, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Glam elements included Gerber’s hair tousled with a middle part and soft waves.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 8 June 2026
  • Her signature copper red hair, styled by Halley Brisker, was worn softly tousled down her back.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2026
  • With wet tousled hair, and wearing dramatic makeup, Hadid gave the world a closeup of her brand new hairstyle.
    — Amy MacKelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 26 May 2018
  • 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
  • In the photo, the Babygirl actress could be seen tapping into her screen siren status by posing with her hands tousling her curls.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 20 June 2026
  • Lili paired the dress with some classic nude Stuart Weitzman pumps, a soft nude pink lip, and tousled waves for a truly enchanting look.
    — Kara Nesvig, Teen Vogue, 6 Jan. 2019

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tousle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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