unruffled

/ʌnˈrʌfld/ (bre, ipa) · [ənrˈʌfəld] /ʌnˈrʌfld/ (ame, ipa) · [ənrˈʌfəld] /ˌən-ˈrə-fəld How to pronounce unruffled (audio)/ (ame, mw)

unruffled — adjective

  • unruffledpositive
  • more unruffledcomparative
  • most unruffledsuperlative

1. staying calm and in control of your emotions when other people would become upse

1.形容詞B2
釋義

staying calm and in control of your emotions when other people would become upset, worried, or angry

例句

Heloísa remained completely unruffled when the airline lost her luggage at the airport.

remain + unruffled when [difficulty]

Despite the angry clients shouting at him, Tariq stayed unruffled and polite throughout the meeting.

stay unruffled despite [provocation]

同義詞
  • composed

    more general and neutral; anyone keeping emotions in check is composed

  • unflappable

    more informal and vivid; suggests someone who simply cannot get nervous

  • collected

    implies focused self-control, especially when quick thinking is needed

  • serene

    suggests a deeper, more peaceful calm, often in a spiritual or meditative context

反義詞
  • agitated

    restless and visibly anxious

  • flustered

    confused and nervous, especially when under time pressure

  • ruffled

    direct opposite; disturbed or annoyed

用法筆記

Often used with 'remain' or 'stay' to describe a continuous state of calm. The cause of potential upset is commonly introduced by 'by' (unruffled by the criticism) or 'despite' (remained unruffled despite the chaos). Distinguished from sense 2 by describing a person's emotional state rather than a physical surface.

常見錯誤

❌She was unruffled to the bad news.
✅She remained unruffled by the bad news.
💡'unruffled' uses the preposition 'by', not 'to', when introducing the cause of potential upset.
❌He felt unruffled with the delay.
✅He stayed unruffled despite the long delay.
💡Use 'despite' or 'in spite of' to name the difficult situation, not 'with'.

2. smooth and flat, with no movement or disturbance — used especially of the surfac

2.形容詞C1
釋義

smooth and flat, with no movement or disturbance — used especially of the surface of water

例句

The mountain lake was perfectly unruffled, reflecting the trees along its shore.

perfectly unruffled [body of water]

Jin watched the unruffled surface of the pond as a dragonfly skimmed across it.

unruffled surface of [body of water]

同義詞
  • smooth

    more general and common; works for any flat surface

  • calm

    everyday word for water that is not rough; also used for weather

  • still

    emphasizes a complete lack of movement, often in a poetic context

  • placid

    literary; suggests a peaceful, glassy surface

反義詞
  • ruffled

    direct opposite; having small waves or ripples

  • choppy

    with many small, rough waves (used of water)

  • rough

    with large waves; the opposite of calm water

用法筆記

Nearly always describes bodies of water (lakes, seas, ponds, canals, harbors) or liquid surfaces. Does not apply to manufactured surfaces such as tables, floors, or fabrics — use 'smooth' or 'flat' instead.

常見錯誤

❌The polished wooden table had an unruffled surface.
✅The lake had a perfectly unruffled surface.
💡'unruffled' for physical surfaces is almost exclusively used for water, not furniture or other manufactured objects.
❌Her dress had an unruffled fabric.
✅Her dress was made of smooth fabric.
💡'unruffled' is not used for the texture of clothing or textiles.