ruffles 1 of 2

noun

plural of ruffle
1
as in flounces
a strip of fabric gathered or pleated on one edge and used as trimming likes lace curtains without ruffles and chintz curtains with ruffles

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2
as in thorns
something that is a source of irritation a spouse's snoring is one ruffle that many couples must eventually come to terms with

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ruffles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of ruffle
as in annoys
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!"

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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 ruffles
Noun
There's that fish net aspect in there, the ruffles to mimic the coral, the pearls. — Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 22 June 2026 Its high collar rose above the jacket, with more ruffles pushing past the sleeves at each wrist. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 July 2026 The dress featured a form-fitting bodice with a high-low bottom that flared out in ruffles. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026 The vibrant orange and pink shades are playful and bold, but the subtle ruffles maintains its overall refined look. — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 18 June 2026 This lightweight, ankle-length dress adheres to the dress code, while still adding a little something extra thanks to the summery ruffles that drapes across the silhouette. — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 25 June 2026 For the occasion, Olivia wore a baby pink off-the-shoulder minidress with dramatic ruffles and a train, while Christian traded in his football uniform for a black tux. — Alicia Brunker, InStyle, 19 June 2026 Hathaway, styled by Erin Walsh, wore a white mini-dress from Blumarine’s resort 2027 collection, a cascade of semi-sheer, billowing fabric and arpeggiating white ruffles that culminated in a delicate halterneck. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 5 July 2026
Verb
Mama pats Rafa’s head then ruffles his hair. — Literary Hub, 18 May 2026 Luckily for the show, nothing ruffles the other women’s feathers more, so good television still ensues. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025 And Elon Musk’s AI power plant ruffles a Mississippi city. — David Hickey, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruffles
  1. flounces
  2. thorns
  3. annoys
  4. borders
  5. headaches
  6. bugs
  7. frills
  8. frustrations
Noun
  • For some, summer is about wearing lightweight bohemian pieces, like flowing blouses, voluminous dresses, a lots of frills and flounces.
    — Emma Bocchi, Vogue, 28 June 2026
  • Prone to wearing clothes that suggest an overgrown pre-teen herself, all frills, flounces and bright colors, Martha doesn’t look like great maternal material to Claire, although this judgmental attitude may be evidence of her own maternal deficiencies.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 24 May 2026
Definition of flounces
Noun
  • An individual bush can grow up to 15 feet high and 40 feet long, with thick stems, also known as canes, marked by sharp, hooked thorns.
    — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 25 June 2026
  • The match was set, and now Rhodes will defend the title against the two thorns in his side since before Clash in Italy.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026
Definition of thorns
Verb
  • What is the pettiest thing that annoys you during a race weekend?
    — Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 24 June 2026
  • One of the more common ways bear encounters escalate is when an off-leash dog runs toward a bear, annoys it, and then comes sprinting back to its owner with an angry predator in pursuit.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026
Definition of annoys
Noun
  • This is a film with genuine heart and authenticity that reflects modern Britain while speaking to audiences far beyond its borders.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 July 2026
  • The United States and the European Union have expressed concern about China’s new ethnic unity law, which went into effect this week and gives Beijing the legal basis to take action against people outside its borders.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 3 July 2026
Definition of borders
Noun
  • Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome causes fatigue, fever, muscle aches, abdominal problems, headaches, chills and dizziness in the early stages, and late symptoms include chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath and lungs filling with fluid.
    — Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Americans who have health insurance say prior authorization is the healthcare system’s biggest burden, causing administrative headaches while care is kept out of reach.
    — Miranda Yaver, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
Definition of headaches
Verb
  • What really bugs me about this moment, and about the battle and its aftermath, is the lack of feeling.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • When traveling, the EPA suggests inspecting any room visitors will be staying in for the presence of bed bugs.
    — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Definition of bugs
Noun
  • Tailor The Experience To Your Audience One strategy is understanding the audience and their preferred user interface—developers do not appreciate wasting tokens or time on frills rather than the substance of their ask.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation might've taken the Editors' Choice title for their extra frills, but these entry-level buds sure hold their own in the open-ear category.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 1 July 2026
Definition of frills
Noun
  • Rewarding The Long-Term Customer One of the most common frustrations in telecom is the belief that new customers get the best deals while long-term customers are left behind.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Recent allegations of irregularities in government recruitment exams have only deepened frustrations among some young Indians.
    — Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of frustrations

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Cite this Entry

“Ruffles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruffles. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of ruffles for Spanish Speakers

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