as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
his grandfather would always tousle the boy's neatly combed hair
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Recent Examples of tousle
In that original viral campaign launch video, a bearded Platner, his strawberry blonde hair tousled, introduced Maine voters to the issues central to his platform, namely, broad economic populism, taxing billionaires, and universal healthcare.
—
Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2025
Look at Jimmy Fallon, who steered clear of the wrong jokes and tousled the right hair, and is still catching all-caps strays on Truth Social.
—James Folta
september 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
Inviting Half Lash to the singer's eyes and her hair down and tousled with a classic middle part.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 8 Sep. 2025
After Fallon’s now-infamous Tonight Show interview with Donald Trump leading up to the 2016 election, many criticized him for humanizing Trump by asking him softball questions and tousling his hair.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tousle
Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2025
Look at Jimmy Fallon, who steered clear of the wrong jokes and tousled the right hair, and is still catching all-caps strays on Truth Social.
—James Folta
september 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
Inviting Half Lash to the singer's eyes and her hair down and tousled with a classic middle part.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 8 Sep. 2025
After Fallon’s now-infamous Tonight Show interview with Donald Trump leading up to the 2016 election, many criticized him for humanizing Trump by asking him softball questions and tousling his hair.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tousle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tousle
Verb
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Corvus Robotics says the system can operate during active warehouse shifts without disrupting workflows.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
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The West Coast sunlight would disrupt the concert feel that most halftime shows have, Cuddeford said.—
Itzel Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The race for Los Angeles mayor has been in an extraordinary state of flux, with the candidate lineup shuffling and reshuffling in the final days before the filing deadline.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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The Moore administration has chosen the opposite approach, doubling down on spending while shuffling money around in a game of three-card monte.—
J.B. Jennings,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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With their special technology, the cameras can take high-quality videos of animals at night without disturbing them.—
Charles Seabrook,
AJC.com,
7 Feb. 2026
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That the president remains fixated on this conspiracy theory, rather than tending to his job as the leader of the most powerful institution on the planet, should disturb anyone who wants America to remain a free and prosperous nation.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The citizens of Texas are confusing hospitality for complacency.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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To give my permission to be sad, to be angry, to be confused.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tousle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tousle. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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