as in to confuse
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
troops disoriented by the sudden change in battle plans
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Recent Examples of disorient
The affected turtles, who were weak and disoriented, washed ashore in New England after the cold-stunning event.
—
Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
The lawsuit alleges that after receiving more than two dozen drinks from crew members, the man became disoriented and agitated while trying to find his room.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
Most notably, Godard pioneered the use of jump cuts in the film, cutting within the same shot to compress time, disorient the viewer, and keep things moving, which gives certain scenes an odd, staccato rhythm.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2025
According to video footage taken last week, Reid — who was in Chicago for Comic Con — appeared disoriented as several people helped her into a wheelchair.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disorient
Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
The lawsuit alleges that after receiving more than two dozen drinks from crew members, the man became disoriented and agitated while trying to find his room.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
Most notably, Godard pioneered the use of jump cuts in the film, cutting within the same shot to compress time, disorient the viewer, and keep things moving, which gives certain scenes an odd, staccato rhythm.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2025
According to video footage taken last week, Reid — who was in Chicago for Comic Con — appeared disoriented as several people helped her into a wheelchair.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disorient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disorient
Verb
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The 40-year-old cooks up ways to make quarterbacks miserable in his sleep, devising schemes that are meant to lure as much as they are intended to confuse.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
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Canales-Pelaez said that local departments may be confusing administrative warrants with criminal ones, or overcomplying to avoid backlash from the state Legislature.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But unlike his Sophoclean namesake, Orestes is bewildered by this escalation and refuses.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
The Atlantic,
5 Jan. 2026
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In April, the president was among those bewildered by his fall.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
27 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The disjunction between the abstract composition and the notion of self-portraiture appeared perplexing in its own right; its inoperability only exacerbated the viewer’s frustration and redoubled the artist’s impish provocation.—
Ara H. Merjian,
Artforum,
1 Jan. 2026
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But the unknown in that equation is what perplexes the Mavericks and has the team stuck for now.—
Tim Cowlishaw,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Experts on childhood disease were baffled by the change in guidance.—
Arthur Allen,
NPR,
9 Jan. 2026
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Experts on childhood disease were baffled by the change in guidance.—
Arthur Allen,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Her mysterious symptoms puzzled doctors, at least one of whom suggested the pain was psychosomatic.—
Sophie Dodd,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
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Further study is also needed to untangle one puzzling finding.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disorient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disorient. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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