"a wrinkled shirt" and "a rumpled shirt"

[Daruma]

Hello.



1. a wrinkled shirt
2. a rumpled shirt
These two mean the same thing, don't they?

[PROESL]

Hello.



1. a wrinkled shirt
2. a rumpled shirt
These two mean the same thing, don't they?

I ususally say "wrinkled". I don't know if I've ever said "rumpled". They mean the same thing. Saying "my shirt is rumpled" sounds kind of funny to me for some reason. I don't know why. It is correct, though. There's no problem with saying "my shirt is rumpled".

[pyoung]

Hello.



1. a wrinkled shirt
2. a rumpled shirt
These two mean the same thing, don't they?

Dear Daruma:

They mean basically the same thing.

To my ear 'rumpled' has the connotation of being creased and disordered through wear. ('He had a rumpled look after spending a sleepless night on the train.')

'Wrinkled,' on the other hand, means creased in an untidy way.

Also, skin can be wrinkled, but not rumpled.

I hope this is helpful,

Petra