n. 1 trimming, flounce, frill, ruff, peplum, flare, smocking, ruche, ruching, gather, gathering Doesn't that ruffle at the back of the skirt make it look a bit old-fashioned? 2 ripple, wavelet, disturbance, flurry, bustle, stir, perturbation, wrinkle The news of the divorce caused a slight ruffle at court
v. 3 agitate, disconcert, confuse, discompose, discomfit, upset, disturb, stir up, perturb, unsettle, disorient, unnerve, fluster, affect, bother, intimidate, unstring, put out, vex, trouble, worry, Colloq rattle, throw, shake up, Chiefly US and Canadian discombobulate, voodoo, hex, psych out, Slang chiefly US and Canadian get (someone) all shook up, spook She was ruffled by questions concerning her relationship with the deceased 4 disarrange, dishevel, disorder, rumple, mix up, tousle, tangle, disorder, Colloq mess or muss (up) His unpleasant attitude ruffled quite a few feathers in the department