1
as in rotten
having undergone organic breakdown
addled eggs found on a long abandoned hen's nest
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in baffled
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
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
Minter, who wore braces until high school, grew up in Florida, with a drug-addled single mother.
—Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2026
Sharif, now an old man (played by Mohammad Bakri), lives with them, his memory addled yet returning obsessively to the loss of his homeland.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for addled
Adjective
Some scenes work — the ones between Winslet and Riseborough, for example — but others backfire, such as when Spall’s addled character performs karaoke.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
Minter, who wore braces until high school, grew up in Florida, with a drug-addled single mother.
—Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
Verb
That decision, even if only for exploratory purposes, should be left to a Congress whose majority isn’t addled by either devotion to Trump or fear of him.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2026
Sharif, now an old man (played by Mohammad Bakri), lives with them, his memory addled yet returning obsessively to the loss of his homeland.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for addled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for addled
Adjective
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Fruit flies will still find rotten food thrown in the trash and drink cans that still contain liquid, so keep a lid on the bins for extra protection.—
Emma Ashe,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Thick ice is rotten after rain.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But plenty of people tell of being left dazed and destabilized by ayahuasca ceremonies and struggling to return to their previous lives; some make sudden life changes that only bring distress and further trauma.—
Mattha Busby,
Rolling Stone,
16 Jan. 2026
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The slightly dazed look of someone who has just emerged from an eight-hour surgery.—
Matthew Kayser,
Ascend Agency,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Later novels routinely took inspiration from family members or former or current lovers; the 1980 novel that baffled Frank Kermode is a dreamlike fable about a man guiltily trying to have an extramarital affair.—
Christopher Tayler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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Instead, Chan's team taught Liu how to juggle, which baffled her.—
Daysia Tolentino,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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What to Do With Overripe Pears Not to worry if pears are soft but not spoiled.—
Lynn Andriani,
Martha Stewart,
8 Jan. 2026
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The United Center cheers were nearly spoiled when Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy challenged the game-winner for an offside penalty.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The usually positive Gauff went negative, lacked energy and seemed bewildered and overwhelmed.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Since his starring days at Gonzaga, Timme has earned bewildered double takes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The show is Finding Her Edge, a new ice skating drama that should not be confused with Spinning Out, another Netflix ice skating drama that was cancelled after one season.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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Judicial warrants should not be confused with administrative warrants, which are signed by immigration officers.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Inside the container were the badly decomposed remains of an infant.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
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Santa Barbara County Sheriff-Coroner Bill Brown said Melodee's decomposed body was found in a rural area outside of Cainville in Wayne County, discovered by a man and a woman taking photos.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
23 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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An out of shape owl emerged, followed by jealous girlfriend owl and the ADHD-riddled owl, who is far too distracted to hoot.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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The annual report focused on seat belt usage, impaired driving, driving distracted, speeding, motorcycle driving and young drivers.—
Brian Sherrod,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Addled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/addled. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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