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 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
Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
With his brow perennially furrowed and hair slicked with sweat, Riley has the exact look and bearing of a suavely addled wrong-man figure from British thrillers of yore — and thus makes a suitably bemused proxy for the viewers in this wasteland of mounting chaos and absurdity.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Aug. 2025
In a week, nearly 1,000 students will be walking through the doors of Roxbury Prep, a new charter school that looks to be a catalyst for change in a neighborhood marred by the Mass and Cass opioid-addled wasteland.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
The album lasts a bit over an hour and has peaks and valleys typical of modern rap’s onomatopoeic nature, where verses and choruses float by in a murky, addled stream.
—Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for addled
Adjective
How the inextricable combinations of lyrical narratives and distortion-addled arrangements served as salient commentaries on authoritarian power and artificial intelligence, as well as science denialism, knee-bending capitulation and unrestrained wealth.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
With his brow perennially furrowed and hair slicked with sweat, Riley has the exact look and bearing of a suavely addled wrong-man figure from British thrillers of yore — and thus makes a suitably bemused proxy for the viewers in this wasteland of mounting chaos and absurdity.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Aug. 2025
In a week, nearly 1,000 students will be walking through the doors of Roxbury Prep, a new charter school that looks to be a catalyst for change in a neighborhood marred by the Mass and Cass opioid-addled wasteland.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
The album lasts a bit over an hour and has peaks and valleys typical of modern rap’s onomatopoeic nature, where verses and choruses float by in a murky, addled stream.
—Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for addled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for addled
Adjective
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Across almost 20 novels, the British author spun fantastical tales with unsentimental wit, infusing his work with darkly morbid humor, blithe child endangerment, rotten and antagonistic adults, and a willingness to occasionally laugh at the misfortune of others.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Before storing, get rid of any rotten or damaged tubers.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
When Ron takes a seat, the chair falls out from under him and breaks, leaving him dazed and sprawled on the floor.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Philadelphia’s defense seemed dazed and ill-prepared for Dart’s precision, composure and dual-threat ability.—
Andy Behrens,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The sense of arbitrariness that had previously bewildered and frustrated me was drowned out by excitement and sheer aesthetic pleasure.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The spoiled food was brought onboard by a customer and was not related to in-flight food or drinks, according to the company.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Bad gas often has a spoiled or sour smell.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Officers were apparently confused.—
Aida Alami,
New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2025
-
One of the artists looked at me a little confused.—
Mankaprr Conteh,
Rolling Stone,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This isn’t the first time the value of a thrift store find has left the internet baffled.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
-
And suddenly, Glenn and the Jets headed to halftime without running a play in the nearly 40 seconds at their disposal, a move that baffled both their loyalists in New Jersey and the Broncos’ sideline across the pond.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The decomposed body found in singer D4vd's Tesla at a Los Angeles impound lot was identified as that of a 15-year-old girl.—
Christian Orozco,
NBC news,
18 Sep. 2025
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McCormack’s decomposed body was found in a pink suitcase near Missouri Highway 59 between Lanagan, Missouri, and Noel, Missouri, on July 29, 2019, according to the plea agreement.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The main culprits are well known – speeding, alcohol, distracted driving, and the simple failure to wear a seatbelt.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
-
While Polarity, Greg, Sam, and Jordan keep Cipher distracted, Emma, Cate, and Annabeth go looking for her.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Addled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/addled. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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