dishevel

[ dih-shev-uhl ]

verb (used with object)

, di·shev·eled, di·shev·el·ing or (especially British) di·shev·elled, di·shev·el·ling.

1. to let down, as hair, or wear or let hang in loose disorder, as clothing.
2. to cause untidiness and disarray in:

   The wind disheveled the papers on the desk.

dishevel

/ dɪˈʃɛvəl /

verb

1. to disarrange (the hair or clothes) of (someone)

Derived Forms

• diˈshevelment, noun

Other Words From

• di·shevel·ment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dishevel¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; back formation from disheveled

Word History and Origins

Origin of dishevel¹

C15: back formation from dishevelled

Example Sentences

Four sources told the magazine he had rejected the idea of visiting because the rain would dishevel his hair, and he did not believe it important to honour America's war dead.

From BBC

Four sources told the magazine he rejected the idea of visiting because the rain would dishevel his hair, and he did not believe it important to honour America's war dead.

From BBC

However four sources told The Atlantic he rejected the idea of visiting because the rain would dishevel his hair, and he did not believe it important to honour America's war dead.

From BBC

The prime minister had spent the morning in a blubberweight fight at a Manchester boxing gym, before making another toe-curlingly embarrassing video of him and Carrie Symonds campaigning and going back to his hotel to dishevel his hair.

From The Guardian

“I don’t think anything can be innocent any more. It is drawing an explicit comparison between societal upheaval and moments of disorder, moments of dishevel and the current moment.”

From The Guardian