disheveled
adjective
di·shev·eled
di-ˈshev-əld 
variants
or dishevelled
: marked by disorder or disarray
disheveled hair
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Disheveled comes from Middle English discheveled, meaning "bareheaded" or "with disordered hair." That word is partially based on Anglo-French deschevelé, a combination of the prefix des- ("dis-") and chevoil ("hair"). In English, disheveled describes things other than hair that have a messy or untidy appearance.
Examples of disheveled in a Sentence
His wrinkled suit gave him a disheveled appearance.
They looked dirty and disheveled.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Shaun of the Dead actor, 53, has been cast as the disheveled, lovable gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid in the upcoming Harry Potter series adaptation, less than three years after Robbie Coltrane — who originally played the character in the film series — died at age 72.
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Rachel Raposas, People.com, 3 June 2025
The choice conjured a dreadful red tone to the scene while providing enough light to make out the details of the rubble and disheveled surroundings.
—Daron James, IndieWire, 27 May 2025
Jurors Thursday afternoon watched the first hour of the interview with a disheveled Dominguez and the Davis detectives who wanted answers from their prime suspect.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 24 May 2025
The remaining disheveled flowers aren’t as attractive as the seed heads on a poppy, for example.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for disheveled
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Rachel Raposas, People.com, 3 June 2025
The choice conjured a dreadful red tone to the scene while providing enough light to make out the details of the rubble and disheveled surroundings.
—Daron James, IndieWire, 27 May 2025
Jurors Thursday afternoon watched the first hour of the interview with a disheveled Dominguez and the Davis detectives who wanted answers from their prime suspect.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 24 May 2025
The remaining disheveled flowers aren’t as attractive as the seed heads on a poppy, for example.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for disheveled
Cite this Entry
“Disheveled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disheveled. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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