1
as in rotten
having undergone organic breakdown
addled eggs found on a long abandoned hen's nest
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dazed
suffering from mental confusion
one of the more addled audience members confused Ghana with Guyana
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in bewildered
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
after slipping on the ice, Bethany was so addled that she left her groceries where they'd fallen
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of addled
Ron Wilkins, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Nov. 2024
The episode hinges on Novak’s ability to sell Nandor’s transformation from seemingly addled while lecturing a warehouse full of mannequins, to roguishly determined when commanding his followers to set Dartmouth University on fire.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Back at the Harris rally, Carvey came out as a squinting and addled Biden, talking in circles before Harris finally tried to push him off the stage.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 28 Sep. 2024
In the span of about a week, she’s become an icon for our addled times.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for addled
Adjective
Psychiatrists testified for both the state and the defense that a person in psychosis is prone to make statements based on a belief in their addled mind.
—Ron Wilkins, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Nov. 2024
The episode hinges on Novak’s ability to sell Nandor’s transformation from seemingly addled while lecturing a warehouse full of mannequins, to roguishly determined when commanding his followers to set Dartmouth University on fire.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Back at the Harris rally, Carvey came out as a squinting and addled Biden, talking in circles before Harris finally tried to push him off the stage.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 28 Sep. 2024
In the span of about a week, she’s become an icon for our addled times.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for addled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for addled
Adjective
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The smell, an odor like rotten eggs, is the sargassum piles decomposing, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Apr. 2025
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Once seaweed washes ashore, the piles start to rot and release hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells like rotten eggs.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Once Connor Brown deposited the puck into the empty Los Angeles net and rejoiced, the Kings milled about the ice in a dazed and confused state.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
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The feeling in the crowd was a kind of dazed submission.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The actor—who is also currently filming season three of Euphoria—took the time to walk the wide-eyed and probably quite bewildered pup around the carpeted front of the hotel, and looked chic doing it.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
7 May 2025
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Heyman then handed the chair to a bewildered Roman Reigns, who used it to strike downed CM Punk.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The whipsaw turns have left markets, governments and consumers alike confused and worried about what’s next.—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
1 May 2025
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However, the tricky part is that communications are confused, especially with family members or home repairs.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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People are unpredictable, distracted, under pressure.—
John Bowe,
CNBC,
1 May 2025
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But sports cars can also be mishandled by distracted drivers, and Zahornacky said that’s what happened here.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Several staff members at a Broward County school complained of being light-headed and dizzy after a student was found with a bag of pills on campus Wednesday, Miramar police said.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2025
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Back in 2023, Skrillex resurfaced unexpectedly with two new albums at once—Quest for Fire and Don’t Get Too Close—to showcase how his rattling bass juggernauts had evolved and his newfound grasp on dizzy emo-rap had tightened.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Addled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/addled. Accessed 16 May. 2025.
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