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

How the Fake Story Spread The viral posts claimed a man was found sunburned and disoriented on a beach in Lee County, Florida, after being held underwater for three days by dolphins. —Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026

What the Viral Posts Claimed The posts alleged that a man was found sunburned and disoriented on a beach in Lee County, Florida, after being held underwater for three days by dolphins. —Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2026

Your everyday reality is disorienting change—but not the kind that freed Lippmann and his generation to shape their era. —George Packer, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026

As the pandemic advances, the characters lock down in various ways, disoriented and stressed out. —Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 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

• misrepresent
• accent
• advent
• ascent
• assent
• augment
• cement
• consent
• dement
• descent
• detent
• dissent

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