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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of addle
Ann Hornaday, Twin Cities, 25 July 2019
Howard Walker, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2023
In The Dog of the South there is the Demerol-addled, disgraced Dr. Reo Symes, whose life story threatens beautifully to overtake the book’s ostensible plot.
—Will Stephenson, Harper’s Magazine , 13 Mar. 2023
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
Two laps are enough to addle your brain and unbalance your equilibrium.
—Howard Walker, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2023
In The Dog of the South there is the Demerol-addled, disgraced Dr. Reo Symes, whose life story threatens beautifully to overtake the book’s ostensible plot.
—Will Stephenson, Harper’s Magazine , 13 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for addle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for addle
Adjective
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Three eyewitnesses spoke of coming upon a dazed Pino clinging to the hull of his overturned boat, Lucy’s body trapped underneath.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
2 Jan. 2025
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After this, the responsibilities of playing Bush fell to Hammond and later Will Forte, who fit the character more into his own image of a silly little boy in a man’s body rather than re-enact Ferrell’s dazed and confused moron shtick.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The cat, named Ameera, looked bewildered by her family early start to the day.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
6 Mar. 2025
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Jackie lets the ladies know that Phaedra may not be rejoining the group, and while Toya seems a bit bewildered, Simone remains indifferent—further solidifying the mean girl energy that Phaedra called out.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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More than a year later, the campus remains in a state of bewildered unease.—
Nathan Heller,
The New Yorker,
3 Mar. 2025
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But for many bewildered observers, both explanations for Trump’s extraordinary pivot to the Kremlin seem equally misplaced.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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That reluctance baffles Pérez and her colleague, Deputy Public Defender Amy Tao.—
CalMatters,
The Mercury News,
27 Feb. 2025
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Over the past few months, Bob Dylan has been baffling fans with surreal posts on his official social media platforms.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This is particularly important in distracted driving cases—showing data usage doesn't necessarily prove someone was actively using their phone.—
Lars Daniel,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
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Franco is simpering when he wasn’t distracted, and while Hathaway brings a bit of spirit, most of her lines are only half-funny.—
Bill Wyman,
Vulture,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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On the flip side, some have found peoples' infatuation with the ferocious-looking predator perplexing.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA TODAY,
20 Feb. 2025
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Many fans of the show are perplexed by this particular star with his cutthroat singing chops.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Imagine how confused ordinary taxpayers are by this ridiculous, irresponsible, intergovernmental spat.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2025
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Tuna was both curious and confused as to why Evelyn dared to leave his side.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Boat-Friendly Boca Grande To live in Boca Grande (not to be confused with Boca Raton, the resort on Florida’s east coast) is to be on the water.—
Mary Forgione,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
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When some confused the artist organization’s acronym, RCAF, with the Royal Canadian Air Force, the name was humorously changed to the Royal Chicano Air Force.—
Joe Rubin,
Sacramento Bee,
13 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to addle
Cite this Entry
“Addle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/addle. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.
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