US /ˈɹʌmpəl/ UK /ˈrʌmpəl/
verb Freq #34568

Meanings

  1. 1
    verb

    to make hair, fabric, or another surface untidy with wrinkles, folds, or creases

    He rumpled the child's hair as he passed.

  2. 2
    verb

    to become wrinkled, creased, or untidy

    The linen will rumple if it remains packed in the case.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 verb · to make hair, fabric, or... rufflecrumplecrease
2 verb · to become wrinkled,... wrinklecrumplecrease
Opposites
Word family
Forms rumpled
Derived forms rumplerrumplyunrumple
Related forms rimplewrinkle

Etymology

From Middle English rimplen or a closely related Germanic form meaning 'to wrinkle.' The modern word applies the idea of small folds to cloth, hair, and other surfaces.

Topics

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