disheveled 1 of 2

variants or dishevelled
Definition of dishevelednext

disheveled

2 of 2

verb

variants or dishevelled
past tense of dishevel

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 disheveled
Adjective
Instead, Ferguson watched as her once bright-eyed, handsome son sank into disheveled psychosis, bouncing between family members' homes, homeless shelters, jails, clinics, emergency rooms and Ohio's regional psychiatric hospitals. Sarah Jane Tribble, NPR, 22 Dec. 2025 Not that there’s a direct cause and effect between botched screens and not knowing where you’re supposed to line up shortly after them, but the point is that far too often this season, the Packers have looked disheveled or inept on offense, given their talent on that side of the ball. Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
Jet fuel flowed into the cabin, filling the space as Carleton, frazzled and disheveled, crawled toward the exit, tossing luggage that had fallen out of the upside-down overhead compartments out of the way to clear a path for his fellow passengers. Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 20 Dec. 2025 In preparing for the audition, Spacek claims to have deliberately arrived to read for the role all disheveled. Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disheveled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disheveled
Adjective
  • In this case, that ball happens to be the complex that serves as the symbolic seat of the nation’s vibrant, messy, questioning, deeply political and hugely alive arts and culture scene.
    Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Scuffs and chips will show up quickly, requiring frequent touch-ups that can end up creating messy layers.
    Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Since June, federal immigration raids have disrupted neighborhoods and communities across Los Angeles and around the nation, including at work sites, along neighborhood streets and in commercial areas.
    Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
  • This has disrupted standing deployment plans, scrambled ships to sail thousands of miles and put increasing strain on vessels and equipment that are already facing mounting maintenance issues.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • His piece of genius separated the sides entering the 84th minute but during a chaotic finale, the hosts conspired to grab defeat from the jaws of victory.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • But Biden quickly sank in the late summer and fall, due in large part to a chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal and rising prices.
    Craig Gilbert, jsonline.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The New England Patriots just couldn't muster much of an attack against a Seattle defense that appeared to have Drake Maye confused through much of the night, falling 29-13.
    Will Richmond, The Providence Journal, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The California Department of Public Health is urging people to avoid mushroom foraging altogether this year because death cap mushrooms are easily confused with safe, edible varieties.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The series does not touch on the tabloid attention that followed the Beckhams in 2004, when it was alleged that David had an affair with his personal assistant, Rebecca Loos, and the many further accusations of cheating that littered gossip columns after.
    Scarlett Harris, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Cigarette butts are the most littered item on the planet.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The study was conducted in a lab, where participants had never slept before, which could have also disturbed their sleep.
    Kaan Ozcan, NBC news, 4 Feb. 2026
  • If the dirt is disturbed the next day, the den is occupied.
    Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • At times, Epstein characterized the billionaire’s office as sloppy and amateurish, exposing him to taxes and reputational risks while making sensitive payments.
    Tom Schoenberg, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The Heat also ran into its own sloppy play, committing 19 turnovers.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • That means there aren’t going to be just a few chairs shuffled around; my suspicion is much of the roster likely will be overhauled in the next few years.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
  • On Thursday afternoon, about 300 people in a mix of puffer coats and fleeces shuffled in place on a line that snaked south along Seventh Avenue to West 10th Street, wrapped around Julius’ and circled back — an Ouroborous.
    Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 12 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disheveled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disheveled. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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