as in confused
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
troops disoriented by the sudden change in battle plans
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Recent Examples of disoriented
The family believes Dan experienced a possible stroke or medical event that left him confused and disoriented before his disappearance.
—
Sarah Dahlberg, NBC news, 6 Jan. 2026
For its part, Singapore has been aggressively retrofitted according to the whims of capital—its coastline expanded, its graveyards exhumed and paved over, its landmarks destroyed—leaving the populace disoriented.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
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
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
Simply standing up there can leave some climbers dizzy and disoriented; walking feels like wading through wet concrete.
—Tom Ward, Outside, 17 Nov. 2025
This is the conclusion of a study led by researchers from Florida's Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, who suspect that—just like some adult humans with dementia are occasionally found wandering far from their homes—dolphins may become similarly disoriented when suffering from Alzheimer's.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
This is the American West actualized and disoriented, where humans are an afterthought.
—Anne Reeve, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
Sarah Dahlberg, NBC news, 6 Jan. 2026
For its part, Singapore has been aggressively retrofitted according to the whims of capital—its coastline expanded, its graveyards exhumed and paved over, its landmarks destroyed—leaving the populace disoriented.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
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
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
Simply standing up there can leave some climbers dizzy and disoriented; walking feels like wading through wet concrete.
—Tom Ward, Outside, 17 Nov. 2025
This is the conclusion of a study led by researchers from Florida's Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, who suspect that—just like some adult humans with dementia are occasionally found wandering far from their homes—dolphins may become similarly disoriented when suffering from Alzheimer's.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
This is the American West actualized and disoriented, where humans are an afterthought.
—Anne Reeve, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disoriented
Verb
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The Farmers’ Almanac will be gone for good after its final 2026 edition, not to be confused with The Old Farmer's Almanac, a separate publication.—
Alex Perry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
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Blue Origin also launches New Shepard from Texas The New Glenn spacecraft is not to be confused with Blue Origin's much smaller New Shepard rocket that the company launches from West Texas on brief trips taking paying passengers high above Earth's atmosphere.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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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Although puzzled, Aisha answered honestly.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
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Like his wife, Moore was puzzled when their friend didn’t show up to eat dinner.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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At a vigil for the two on Sunday night, friends and family were baffled by the killing, the Allentown Morning Call reported.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
5 Jan. 2026
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Scientists are also baffled by how the planet could have formed at all.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Coaches and talent evaluators, both inside the Raiders’ facility and around the league, have been perplexed by the lack of creativity and production.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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Country fans were perplexed as to why Johnson, revered for his commitment to traditional country, had gone mostly dark in the studio during that time.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disoriented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disoriented. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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