tousle

Ruffle someone's hair

Tousle means to make untidy, especially by ruffling or messing up hair: She tousled the boy's hair affectionately.

The word suggests casual, often playful dishevelment rather than serious disorder.

Tousled hair looks rumpled and windswept: He woke up with tousled curls.

affectionate

ruffle

Pleated fabric edging

mussTo disorder casually
scruffBack neck area
noogiePlayful scalp abrasion

pat · stroke · caress · fondle · playful · endearing · gesture · fatherly · brotherly · teasing

disheveled

messy

Lacking order or neatness

tangledTwisted confusedly together
unkemptUntidy in appearance
rumpledCrinkled from neglect

mussed · windswept · bedhead · matted · snarled · shaggy · ruffled · disordered · disarrayed · uncombed

windblown

breeze

Light, gentle air movement

gustBrief wind surge
blusteryWildly, coldly windy
sweptCleaned with bristles

billowing · whipped · blown · gusty · breezy · flyaway · windswept

casual

effortless

Requiring no strain

relaxedFree of stress
undoneNot fastened or completed
beachyEvoking sandy coasts

lived-in · natural · unstyled · carefree · bohemian · easygoing · unstudied · informal

Categories

groomingbrushing teeth, clean shave, bathe, groomed, haircut
hairhair, haircut, hairstyle, hair loss, coily
touchestouch, pat, tap, rub, stroke
disruptdisrupt, disturb, upset, disorder, disorganize
surface worksmooth, roughen, polish, buff, sand

Opposites

hair/appearance order

touslecomb

Toothed grooming implement

groom · smooth · neaten · flatten · tidy

general arrangement/organization

Place methodically

order · organize · tidy · neaten · straighten

Family

tousled, tousling, tousles, tousle-headed, tousle-haired

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G