as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
in my discombobulation I mistook a bathroom door for an exit
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Recent Examples of discombobulation
There was a little bit of discombobulation on the street.
—
Amy Amatangelo, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
In a couple of fleetingly brilliant moments, the director visualizes characters' discombobulation with aggressive blurring and dizzying superimpositions.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
The discombobulation of college athletics contributed to their hasty exits.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
In true festival style, and much to the discombobulation of Dot and Betty, this interview with Kwapis and the Wiggin sisters took place in the lobby of a very busy hotel on the day of We Are the Shaggs’ world premiere at SXSW.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2026
In the weeks prior to the performance, Cassils was subject to a debilitating case of vertigo as their body somatized the disorientation and discombobulation of this historical moment.
—Gayatri Gopinath, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025
Amy Amatangelo, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
In a couple of fleetingly brilliant moments, the director visualizes characters' discombobulation with aggressive blurring and dizzying superimpositions.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
The discombobulation of college athletics contributed to their hasty exits.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
In true festival style, and much to the discombobulation of Dot and Betty, this interview with Kwapis and the Wiggin sisters took place in the lobby of a very busy hotel on the day of We Are the Shaggs’ world premiere at SXSW.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2026
In the weeks prior to the performance, Cassils was subject to a debilitating case of vertigo as their body somatized the disorientation and discombobulation of this historical moment.
—Gayatri Gopinath, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discombobulation
Noun
-
The vast range of difficulty and rigor in academic assessment adds confusion for both learners and employers.—
Bryan Penprase,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
The Holii Travel Pill Organizer is compact enough to fit in a car compartment or backpack, and securely separates daily doses of medications in order to avoid any confusion on busy travel days.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
The splashing water captured by the camera is abstracted into a nebulous fog that dissolves the profile of a Parisian bridge in the background.—
Erika Landström,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
One of Seattle’s must-visit attractions is Pike Place Market, a sprawling tangle of shops, restaurants, and produce stands.—
Harry Cheadle,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 May 2026
-
San Antonio’s half-court offense continues to operate in a tangle of Thunder defenders that has taken the Spurs out of their comfort zone.—
Darnell Mayberry,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discombobulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discombobulation. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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