disorient

verb

dis·​ori·​ent (ˌ)dis-ˈȯr-ē-ˌent 

disoriented; disorienting; disorients

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to lose bearings : displace from normal position or relationship

b

: to cause to lose the sense of time, place, or identity

2

: confuse

Synonyms of disorient

• confuse
• bewilder
• perplex
• baffle
• puzzle

Examples of disorient in a Sentence

Thick fog can disorient even an experienced hiker.

troops disoriented by the sudden change in battle plans

Recent Examples on the Web

Their collective mission is to give generations of American kids raised with an iPad and schooled with a Chromebook an escape hatch — out of the disorienting blue haze and into the rushing, cool air of the real world. — Isabella Cueto, STAT, 13 Nov. 2026

Shortly after, the fifth grader also noticed his dad was becoming disoriented. — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2026

As for the Estonian situation, Starship’s head of operation Pepe Aaviksoo blamed bright ad boards and traffic lights, which apparently disoriented the robot’s sensors. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 6 Nov. 2026

Napolski recommends dripping some along your baseboards to make your kitchen disorienting for mice. — Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 4 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French désorienter, from dés- dis- + orienter to orient

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for disorient

• circumvent
• discontent
• fundament
• malcontent
• occident
• orient
• president
• presidente
• reinvent
• represent
• underwent
• accent

Kids Definition

disorient

verb

dis·​ori·​ent (ˈ)dis-ˈōr-ē-ˌent 

-ˈȯr-

: to cause to be confused or lost

Medical Definition

disorient

transitive verb

dis·​ori·​ent (ˈ)dis-ˈōr-ē-ˌent, -ˈȯr- 

: to produce a state of disorientation in : disorientate

the next day the patient was disoriented but not comatose

—The Journal of the American Medical Association