What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
tousled
Example
She woke up with tousled hair, but it looked cute on her. [tousled: adjective]
Example
He tousled his hair to give it a more relaxed and casual look. [tousled: verb]
disheveled
Example
Her hair was so disheveled that she had to brush it before going out. [disheveled: adjective]
Example
He looked disheveled after working all day in the garden. [disheveled: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Disheveled is more commonly used than tousled in everyday language to describe a messy or unkempt appearance. Tousled is more commonly used in fashion or beauty contexts to describe a stylish or intentional messiness.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between tousled and disheveled?
Neither tousled nor disheveled is particularly formal or informal. Both words can be used in various formality levels depending on the context and tone of the sentence.
