What does rufflier mean?
Rufflier is the comparative form of the adjective ruffly. Its literal meaning is that something has more ruffles, waves, wrinkles, or folds than something else, making it especially useful when describing gathered fabric, curled edges, windblown curtains, or wavy hair. It can also be used informally to describe something becoming more untidy, irregular, or confused. The word belongs to the English vocabulary formed from ruffle, as in a garment that ruffles or a surface disturbed into ripples. Compared with alternatives such as more wrinkled or more crimped, rufflier preserves the distinctive idea of small flowing or uneven folds. It is a straightforward comparative adjective and is normally used when making an explicit comparison.
adjectiveComparative of ruffly: having more ruffles or small waves or folds; more irregular, untidy, or disordered.
- Having more ruffles, waves, or folds.
- Informally, being more irregular, untidy, or disordered.
"She chose a rufflier collar to complement the elaborate dress."
"The wind made the curtains rufflier."
"His argument became rufflier as the discussion grew more confused."
Rufflier is the word for fabric that has gathered into even more rippling folds.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rufflier come from?
Rufflier is formed by adding the comparative suffix -er to ruffly, which in turn is derived from ruffle with the suffix -y. The older and more fundamental member of this word family is ruffle, whose deeper historical origin is uncertain. Ruffle developed within English and now names both a small wave or fold and the action of becoming disturbed or gathered into such folds.
Related word forms
How rufflier is actually used
The literal sense is common for clothing, fabric, hair, and edges. The sense meaning untidy or disordered is more informal and figurative.
Easily confused with rufflier
Ruffly describes something that has ruffles or an irregular appearance, while rufflier is its comparative form, meaning more ruffly.