disorient
verb
dis·ori·ent
(ˌ)dis-ˈȯr-ē-ˌent 
disoriented; disorienting; disorients
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
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
Where is the mild varietal that recalls an afternoon garden, the smoke that relaxes without disorienting?
—
Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
Feeling overwhelmed and disoriented, Doug fled his home during the night and entered a neighbor’s residence two doors down, where he was taken into custody by police.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
The gorgeous black-and-white cinematography, rustic environments, and disorienting camera tricks deliver elegance and unease in equal measure.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Light pollution can also disorient migrating birds, leading them to fatal collisions with buildings in large cities.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disorient
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Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
Feeling overwhelmed and disoriented, Doug fled his home during the night and entered a neighbor’s residence two doors down, where he was taken into custody by police.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
The gorgeous black-and-white cinematography, rustic environments, and disorienting camera tricks deliver elegance and unease in equal measure.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Light pollution can also disorient migrating birds, leading them to fatal collisions with buildings in large cities.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disorient
Cite this Entry
“Disorient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disorient. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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