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Definition of ruffle : 1. A low, vibrating beat of a drum, not so loud as a roll; - called also ruff.
2. A state of being ruffled or disturbed; disturbance; agitation; commotion; as, to put the mind in a ruffle.
3. That which is ruffled; specifically, a strip of lace, cambric, or other fine cloth, plaited or gathered on one edge or in the middle, and used as a trimming; a frill.
4. The connected series of large egg capsules, or oothecae, of any one of several species of American marine gastropods of the genus Fulgur. See Ootheca.
5. To be rough; to jar; to be in contention; hence, to put on airs; to swagger.
6. To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.
7. To become disordered; to play loosely; to flutter.
8. To discompose; to agitate; to disturb.
9. To erect in a ruff, as feathers.
10. To furnish with ruffles; as, to ruffle a shirt.
11. To grow rough, boisterous, or turbulent.
12. To make into a ruff; to draw or contract into puckers, plaits, or folds; to wrinkle.
13. To oughen or disturb the surface of; to make uneven by agitation or commotion.
14. To throw into disorder or confusion.
15. To throw together in a disorderly manner.

Synonyms:

mental disturbance, spoil, affray, gimcrackery, crinkle, shuffle, depress, meld, commix, howl, altercation, burble, ball up, irritate, strangler, falderol, flicker, flick, muff, ruff, garroter, disruption, nettle, swagger, roll, wrinkle, flub, guggle, to-do, prance, gust, bluster, bully, annoy, crush, crease, pleat, immix, trumpery, thumb, knit, frill, throttler, wave, fumble, louse up, fringe, fuse, hurly burly, garrotter, mingle, bodge, devastate, dismay, distress, coalesce, bollocks up, bollix up, lash, merge, alight, blend, bug, strut, trumping, botch up, beading, wound, flurry, sashay, click, fray, peeve, flutter, amalgamate, distract, ruffle up, bobble, leaf, hoo-hah, blow, provoke, noise, cord, decoration, nonsense, flounce, swash, edging, accessorise, braid, fret, rise, caw, mix in, desegregate, cock, kiss, undulate, folie, rile, binding, collar, babble, choker, worry, psychological disorder, disturbance, cockle, conflate, scuffle, bollix, corsage, vex, pick up, neck ruff, snap, mental disorder, nuzzle, cuddle, chasse, sidle, muck up, tittup, bungle, mishandle, get up, freshen, interference, exasperate, caress, screw up, rattle, calm, kerfuffle, furbelow, neckband, commingle, fluff, feelings, chatter, coo, hang over, cheep, dog collar, hug, stab, pat, shamble, plicate, hoo-ha, riff, integrate, jerk, crumple, pucker, gurgle, bother, browbeat, mix, flux, pain, drop, unify, marabou, get, cry, embrace, hold, bubble, combine, chafe, flip, riffle, catch, fluster, folderal, gimcrack, rock, tease, mess-up, shake, bollocks, fracas, put out, foul up, fan, bumble, beat, chirp, flap, unsettle, disquiet, aggravate, gall, perturbation, irk, brood, commotion

disorganize, convulse, discompose, disarrange, tamper, mix-up, scatter, derange, hash, displace, jumble, swirl, whisk, toss, roughen, dislocate, mess, confuse, trouble, ripple, disturb, roil, churn, rummage, misplace, meddle, dishevel, botch, capsize, mislay, confound, agitate, tumble, clutter, upset, scramble, rumple, perturb, ferment, muss, whip, disorder, tousle, blur, muddle

gnarl, coarsen, scuff, scratch

Usage examples:

• 23.- A more improved meeting than I had reason to hope from cross occurrences, which are too apt to ruffle the unstable mind. - "Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel", John Yeardley.
• " It isn't, it's mauve," corrected Isabel, but she smiled and smoothed a chiffon ruffle. - "From the Car Behind", Eleanor M. Ingram.
• It was plain speaking, but it did not ruffle Elvira's composure in the slightest. - "The Mormon Prophet", Lily Dougall.