DISORDERED Synonyms: 167 Similar and Opposite Words

disordered 1 of 2

adjective

(ˌ)dis-ˈȯr-dərd

Definition of disordered

as in chaotic

lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness the doctor's disordered clothing was obviously thrown on in a hurry

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

disordered

2 of 2

verb

past tense of disorder

as in disrupted

to undo the proper order or arrangement of be careful not to disorder the carefully arranged contents of the dresser

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of disordered

Adjective

According to the Hebrew University researchers, the material’s strength is limited by the disordered distribution of wood’s cellulose fibers. — Mike McRae 16, New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2026 When her eating became disordered, Madix found that her metabolism would drop to match her caloric intake. — Anna Peele, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026

Verb

For example, tai chi practitioners are encouraged to stay at 70% effort, a practice that reduces injuries, facilitates mindfulness, and helps maintain nourishing, not disordered, relationships to movement. — Paula Chesley, STAT, 3 June 2026 When that authority tells a young person that their identity is disordered and must be changed, the harm isn’t just theoretical. — A.j. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disordered

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disordered

Adjective

But the image that stays with me is of a meeting with Olga, climbing the winding stairs of our little building for a somewhat chaotic coffee in the festival’s office.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
Explore See latest videos, charts and news Turnstile is the first hardcore band to appear on SNL since Fear’s famously chaotic performance back in 1981.

— Lars Brandle, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of chaotic

Verb

Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine disrupted steel supplies, upended supply chains, and sent costs soaring.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Drought has disrupted berry crops and other natural food sources that bears depend on, sending them closer to humans and into garage cans, bird feeders and chicken coops.

— N. Kirkpatrick, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of disrupted

Adjective

Nonna’s Meatball Sandwich Making meatballs at home can be a messy, overwhelming task.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
The actors split in 2016, following 12 years together in total, although their messy divorce was only finalized in December 2024.

— Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of messy

Verb

People, wildlife and domestic animals get valley fever when the soil in these burrows is disturbed, by a dog digging, a kick of the boot, a shovel, construction equipment, wind or wildfire.

— Susanne Rust Follow, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Clean Regularly Spiders don’t like to be disturbed, so an unused area of your porch is likely to be attractive real estate.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of disturbed

Verb

In the midst of the rush to finish my syllabi and opening week assignments, as my husband shuffled the kids into their sneakers and Crocs and the car for one last back-to-school outing, everything stopped.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
There was the sound of the occasional slipper scraping across the carpet as players and coaches shuffled from the showers.

— Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of shuffled

Adjective

Entering the season, two quarterbacks sit in the top tier, followed by a drop-off to the second and third tiers — both of which are crowded and jumbled.

— Dane Brugler, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Imagine a termite carving a path like a jumbled ball of string through a tree trunk, instead of an axe cleaving a single vector.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of jumbled

Verb

Reese finished with 12 rebounds, but Thornton made her work for every touch near the basket, consistently positioning herself to contest without fouling and keeping Atlanta’s interior offense disorganized throughout the first three quarters.

— Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
That these issues are now coming to light is indicative of a planning process that — in typical Dallas fashion — has been disorganized, rushed and lacking in transparency from its inception.

— Mark Lamster Architecture Critic, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026

Definition of disorganized

Browse Nearby Words

disorder

disordered

disorderedness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Disordered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disordered. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of disordered

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

etiquette

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes