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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of addled
Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 22 Jan. 2025
The Lions’ offense, conversely, never seemed addled as quarterback Jared Goff threw for 303 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions.
—Colton Pouncy, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Enright’s portrait of the mother is terrific — entitled, manipulative, addled, forlorn — as is her characterisation of each of the siblings whose personalities are formed, or deformed, in their mother’s shadow.
—Tomi Obaro, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for addled
Adjective
Apparently, Callas’s last days were like that — addled, frustrated, sad.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 22 Jan. 2025
The Lions’ offense, conversely, never seemed addled as quarterback Jared Goff threw for 303 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions.
—Colton Pouncy, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Enright’s portrait of the mother is terrific — entitled, manipulative, addled, forlorn — as is her characterisation of each of the siblings whose personalities are formed, or deformed, in their mother’s shadow.
—Tomi Obaro, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for addled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for addled
Adjective
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Tamra replies, which is kind of like comparing rotten apples with moldy oranges, but fine, logic is not required here.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
1 Aug. 2025
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But today that moral arc is as twisted as a gnarled, rotten root, and God Bless America has been replaced by the mournful dirge of Taps.—
Marci Alborghetti,
Hartford Courant,
3 July 2025
Adjective
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Victim’s family, friends in shock In Miami’s Shenandoah neighborhood just off Coral Way, the sudden death of Loretta, a married telecommunications executive with two teenage children, has devastated his family and dazed neighbors.—
Charles Rabin,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2025
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The woman called her daughter but was too dazed to explain what had happened.—
John Wisely,
Freep.com,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Olivia, bewildered and frightened, runs to the vast body of Tierra del Fuego to look for him.—
Jason Liwag,
Variety,
14 Aug. 2025
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Whites, bewildered and self-righteous, would find their way to Reagan.—
CalMatters,
Mercury News,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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With no federal law protecting online information and just a patchwork of state privacy laws, many Americans are confused and concerned about how their online information is used, according to surveys by the Pew Research Center.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
16 Aug. 2025
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The memo was welcome for taxpayers who were confused about limits resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) made another tweak.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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El Financiero also reported that authorities are investigating whether the accident was caused by excessive speed or distracted driving.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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In high school, she was disorganized and distracted.—
Holden Seidlitz,
New Yorker,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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If those two regularly start games together alongside Solanke or Richarlison, opposition defences will be left feeling dizzy.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
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Over at the theme park's Universal Studios, a 72-year-old woman reported feeling weak and dizzy after spending time on the Jimmy Fallon Race Through New York attraction in May.—
Nicholas Rice,
People.com,
26 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Addled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/addled. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.
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