Rumpling is the act of causing something to become wrinkled, creased, or uneven. It often implies a lack of smoothness or a distortion of a previously flat or even surface. This can apply to physical objects like clothing, paper, or skin, but can also metaphorically describe a disruption or disturbance in a calm or ordered situation. The resulting effect is generally considered undesirable in the aesthetic sense, leading to an impression of untidiness, damage, or disarray. It evokes the idea of something being handled roughly or carelessly. The word highlights the transformation from a smooth, unblemished state to a more textured, often imperfect one. It's a verb form, which often implies an agent responsible for the change.
Rumpling meaning with examples
- The child's energetic play session ended with their pristine white shirt rumpling into a ball of wrinkles. Their mother sighed, knowing the ironing board would be seeing action later. Though the rumpling was inevitable, the enjoyment was worth it, she thought. It showed how much fun the child had.
- A sudden gust of wind swept through the room, rumpling the papers on the desk and sending them scattering across the floor. The carefully organized chaos of the paperwork was now undone. The neat piles were ruined, and the room felt less orderly, much more disorganized.
- After a long day of travel, her perfectly styled hair began rumpling around her face, adding a touch of natural disarray to her otherwise professional appearance. The constant movement made it inevitable. She considered it an acceptable change after the long journey.
- The dog, excited to see its owner, leaped onto the freshly made bed, rumpling the covers and leaving muddy paw prints behind. Her owner laughed and sighed at this inevitable action, knowing a quick tidy-up would be necessary. It seemed she should have closed the bedroom door.
- The artist was deliberate in his efforts to paint a field of waving wheat, rumpling the canvas itself to evoke a sense of the wind's action. His choice of style and paint made for a visual display and depth to the piece. He wanted to portray the sensation of that windy day.