kerfuffle

noun

kər-ˈfə-fəl How to pronounce kerfuffle (audio)
Definition of kerfufflenext
chiefly British
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity predictably, the royal scandal caused quite a kerfuffle on Fleet Street

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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 kerfuffle During the Cubs recent trip to Los Angeles to play the Dodgers, PCA and the Dodgers fans had a bit of a kerfuffle. — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026 Consider this kerfuffle settled, as Sony Pictures Classics has stepped in and picked up the film. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 4 Aug. 2026 All this kerfuffle may not prevent a win for the Democrats in the midterms—Trump’s historic unpopularity means that many people will turn out just to vote against him. — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 16 July 2026 Neither departure has yet been definitively connected to the kerfuffle. — News Desk, Artforum, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for kerfuffle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kerfuffle
  1. commotion
  2. stir
  3. disturbance
  4. fuss
  5. hurry
  6. turmoil
Noun
  • There’s a lot of commotion swirling around you, and much of the drama may not even involve you directly.
    — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Robin’s younger sister Riverley heard the commotion and ran for help.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of commotion
Noun
  • Mitch Holthus, the voice of the Chiefs, created quite a stir Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham caused a stir this summer by speaking out against transgender women participating in women’s sports.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of stir
Noun
  • While all of Saturday will be dry, skies will trend partly to mostly cloudy as the cloud shield with Isaias and an upper-level disturbance spread into the region.
    — Trey Fulbright, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Officers arrived after a disturbance between two neighbors escalated to one man shooting another, police said.
    — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of disturbance
Noun
  • There’s something classic about a plate of buffalo wings in front of a TV playing football, and this gets you there without any fuss.
    — Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 26 Sep. 2026
  • For all the fuss the Edmonton Oilers have generated this offseason, the club will enter the 2026-27 season with a largely unchanged roster.
    — Janson Duench, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of fuss
Noun
  • If your relief pitcher throws a wild pitch after your defense allowed a gift triple, your season can end in a hurry.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • But Chicago can put up runs in a hurry, as Houston found out.
    — The Athletic MLB Staff, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of hurry
Noun
  • But deeper into the hills of the Ivy League institution, a homemade banner hanging from student co-op housing Saturday signals roiling turmoil.
    — Taylor Galgano, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The song, written with Dan Wilson, isn’t just a story of the turmoil that befell the band post-2003.
    — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of turmoil

Browse Nearby Words

kerfs
kerfuffle
kerfuffles
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Cite this Entry

“Kerfuffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kerfuffle. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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