as in dazed
suffering from mental confusion
my brain grew more and more addle as I made my way through the tax instructions
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to bewilder
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of addle
Ann Hornaday, Twin Cities, 25 July 2019
Marco Della Cava, USA Today, 10 June 2025
The surfer is increasingly addled by visions that come to him in harrowing split-second blackouts.
—Glenn Kenny, New York Times, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for addle
Adjective
Soon enough, the foursome are in the back of that truck in an adventure that begins as a moneymaking scheme and promises to become a heroic journey into the heart of white supremacy at its most virulent and addle-minded.
—Ann Hornaday, Twin Cities, 25 July 2019
Verb
By 1971, with the band addled by drug use and internal strife, Sly and the Family Stone would increasingly lose tour bookings and fail to produce music that matched the songs of just a few years prior.
—Marco Della Cava, USA Today, 10 June 2025
The surfer is increasingly addled by visions that come to him in harrowing split-second blackouts.
—Glenn Kenny, New York Times, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for addle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for addle
Adjective
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The boyfriend is dead and Betty helps Laura, relatively unharmed but dazed, back to her house.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
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When Sneaky Snook in his mail truck happened upon the wreckage near the boundary of Meredith Downs, sheep were scattered along the roadside and the fence, bleating, dazed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Now, many millions of Americans are bewildered by events.—
David French,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
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McNutt housed some 700 kids — about one-third of the population of French Lick — and Bird found the campus outside the dormitory walls bewildering.—
Keith O'Brien,
Rolling Stone,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Be careful about coming on so strong that others are bewildered or defensive.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
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Just a direct, almost bewildered question aimed at the creator.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The decision has baffled Apatow’s team and inner circle.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
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The steel pipe's unexpected growth spurt was reported to police early Wednesday by a pedestrian who saw broken pieces of asphalt falling from the cylinder, baffling people passing by and causing traffic congestion.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Christina Alcorn was shocked to learn that the distracted driver who fatally struck her 15-year-old child, walking to school, would face nothing more than a misdemeanor.—
Jessie Balmert,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
18 Mar. 2026
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Lawmakers debated about distracted driving in an age when drivers are sometimes on a Zoom call while driving in the car.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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These are the brutally real snapshots of a man well acquainted with—but still perplexed by—the powerful and destructive forces that lord over our lives.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
4 Mar. 2026
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Hour said he was perplexed by his liberal friends expressing their condolences.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Similar safety risks also affect people with dementia, who may become confused or frightened and leave without warning.—
Danielle J. Brown,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Mar. 2026
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While 2026 is America’s 250th birthday, Chicago’s City Hall could not be more confused about what to do.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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According to Baumgartner, the decision stemmed from network concerns that the gag could confuse viewers or suggest a storyline involving Kevin.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
21 Mar. 2026
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The city checks for duplicate names, similar-sounding names, spelling conflicts, and anything that could slow down or confuse an emergency response.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Addle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/addle. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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