TOUSLE Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

tousle

verb

ˈtau̇-zəl

Definition of tousle

as in to disrupt

to undo the proper order or arrangement of his grandfather would always tousle the boy's neatly combed hair

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 tousle 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 See All Example Sentences for tousle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tousle

Verb

Gone are the four nations, corresponding to the elements, who coexisted in harmony that was disrupted and then, episode by episode, restored.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
The measure drew support from numerous Cornell students and Ithaca residents, although some graduate students raised concerns that the restrictions were overly broad and could disrupt activities unrelated to Greek life.

— James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of disrupt

Verb

Ivey and his partner persuaded the Crockfords dealer to rotate the high-value cards 180 degrees before shuffling them back into the pack, citing some obscure superstition as justification.

— Kit Chellel, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
In the midst of the rush to finish my syllabi and opening week assignments, as my husband shuffled the kids into their sneakers and Crocs and the car for one last back-to-school outing, everything stopped.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of shuffle

Verb

If anything, the University of Toronto researchers discovered, we humans are the ones disturbing our dogs’ sleep.

— Gina Vivinetto, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026
The disembodied emcee voice for the performance only asks that flash not be used, and that any photography or videography not disturb surrounding attendees.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of disturb

Verb

At last week's race in Azerbaijan, Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas crashed on the last lap and reportedly blamed it on the software becoming confused and affecting his braking.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
Immigrant parents there wanted help writing to their kids’ teachers and making sense of confusing forms.

— Steven Choi, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026