as in to bewilder
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
our grandmother seems a bit discombobulated by all of this birthday fuss
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Recent Examples of discombobulate
Her flashbacks present throughout the film as these trippy visions with a discombobulating first-person POV.
—
Glenn Garner, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2025
The full story is very rarely told from one angle, but the sight of Kelly warming the bench this season has been discombobulating.
—Megan Feringa, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
The experience at the airport has changed in recent years, and can be discombobulating for families.
—Jason D. Seacat, Hartford Courant, 20 Dec. 2024
Technology use and enthusiasm are high and widespread these days—indeed, many of us feel lost or discombobulated if we’re separated for even a short time from our smartphones.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for discombobulate
Glenn Garner, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2025
The full story is very rarely told from one angle, but the sight of Kelly warming the bench this season has been discombobulating.
—Megan Feringa, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
The experience at the airport has changed in recent years, and can be discombobulating for families.
—Jason D. Seacat, Hartford Courant, 20 Dec. 2024
Technology use and enthusiasm are high and widespread these days—indeed, many of us feel lost or discombobulated if we’re separated for even a short time from our smartphones.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for discombobulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discombobulate
Verb
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The designs were puckish and gender-bending, evoking both awe and repulsion—the sort of clothing that titillates lovers of conceptual fashion and bewilders the uninitiated.—
Ana Karina Zatarain,
New Yorker,
19 Sep. 2025
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Cody Meissner, a pediatric professor at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine who has served on ACIP in the past—arguably the most qualified of Kennedy's new lineup—was bewildered at why the committee was rehashing the issue addressed years ago.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Crotz was initially confused as to why Kjartan had closed himself inside.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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CarShield has received positive comments for its breadth of coverage and quick response times, although some policyholders have complained about claim denials, fine-print surprises and confusing sales practices.—
Brian Sloan,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But the rhetoric has baffled Democrats, who see ER payments as effective and noncontroversial and are unwilling to disavow it.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
2 Oct. 2025
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Fans in the surrounding section can be heard in shock, baffled that the man gave away such a coveted possession.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Tutu Atwell’s role is perplexing Every fan base has some trademark bits.—
Nate Atkins,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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Taylor is accustomed to playing forceful characters who have perplexing emotions about motherhood, and in A Thousand and One, Taylor earned her stripes as a performer and acclaim.—
Essence,
Essence,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The observations detected a puzzling event as the planet transitioned from a steady accretion rate in April and May to a burst of growth between June and August.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
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Reports surfaced claiming that WWE was puzzled by such a low grade, followed by rumors that the company pushed to have Hale fired from his position at ESPN.—
Fernando Quiles Jr,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And the offensive operation looked much smoother, as Payton meshed the Colts to death and befuddled their defense on a second-quarter touchdown in which tight end Adam Trautman split out wide.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Sep. 2025
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Stainton Williams has been similarly befuddled by his interactions with Citizens.—
Mario Ariza,
ProPublica,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discombobulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discombobulate. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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