as in confusing
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as in baffling
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
troops disoriented by the sudden change in battle plans
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Recent Examples of disorienting
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
When such a place is hollowed out, the loss lands like a death — sudden, disorienting and strangely private, because grief for culture is often dismissed as indulgent.
—Helmut Paul, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
His interest lies with the plain, untitled youth, and with how this newly disorienting, newly dazzling world helped to shape his greatness.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The multiple locations—and, for the first time in Olympic history, dual cauldrons, in Milan and the mountain town of Cortina—could be a bit disorienting, especially with the Parade of Nations splitting up delegations of athletes.
—Judy Berman, Time, 7 Feb. 2026
For conservatives, that’s been especially disorienting and troubling.
—S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
The work is often difficult and disorienting, but the show’s aim is not to cow viewers into submission.
—Will Fenstermaker, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
The effect is disorienting, akin to watching a tire and its hubcap rotate in seemingly opposite directions.
—Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 29 Jan. 2026
Your hair may look thinner and less vibrant for a few months, which can be upsetting and disorienting.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 29 Jan. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
There is something disorienting about treading water as your date catalogues their personal disappointments, each one hitting like a splash from the diving board.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
Bentley felt a connection, having, in just his 40 years, grown up without the internet at home to being in this disorienting digital-smartphone-AI moment.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2026
Manuel also jangles this apparent order with the striking visual trope of disorienting disproportions of scale—figures appearing unexpectedly small or large in the course’s expanses.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
For North Texans already engaged in solar workforce training, the sudden policy reversal has been disorienting.
—Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026
The effect is both disorienting at times and impactful.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Mehta’s first night proved to be disorienting on a continent with round-the-clock sunlight during the summer.
—Wendy Altschuler, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Mom mode is disorienting on a visceral level.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The feeling of watching the movie is entirely disorienting and completely hilarious.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
When such a place is hollowed out, the loss lands like a death — sudden, disorienting and strangely private, because grief for culture is often dismissed as indulgent.
—Helmut Paul, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
His interest lies with the plain, untitled youth, and with how this newly disorienting, newly dazzling world helped to shape his greatness.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The multiple locations—and, for the first time in Olympic history, dual cauldrons, in Milan and the mountain town of Cortina—could be a bit disorienting, especially with the Parade of Nations splitting up delegations of athletes.
—Judy Berman, Time, 7 Feb. 2026
For conservatives, that’s been especially disorienting and troubling.
—S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
The work is often difficult and disorienting, but the show’s aim is not to cow viewers into submission.
—Will Fenstermaker, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
The effect is disorienting, akin to watching a tire and its hubcap rotate in seemingly opposite directions.
—Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 29 Jan. 2026
Your hair may look thinner and less vibrant for a few months, which can be upsetting and disorienting.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
Two therapists work in sync to create a continuous, enveloping rhythm that’s disorienting in the best way.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
There is something disorienting about treading water as your date catalogues their personal disappointments, each one hitting like a splash from the diving board.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
Bentley felt a connection, having, in just his 40 years, grown up without the internet at home to being in this disorienting digital-smartphone-AI moment.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2026
Manuel also jangles this apparent order with the striking visual trope of disorienting disproportions of scale—figures appearing unexpectedly small or large in the course’s expanses.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
For North Texans already engaged in solar workforce training, the sudden policy reversal has been disorienting.
—Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026
The effect is both disorienting at times and impactful.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Mehta’s first night proved to be disorienting on a continent with round-the-clock sunlight during the summer.
—Wendy Altschuler, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Mom mode is disorienting on a visceral level.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disorienting
Adjective
-
Here's a breakdown of the somewhat confusing chain of events from this week.—
Hannah Hudnall,
Louisville Courier Journal,
12 Feb. 2026
-
What’s confusing is that Kevan is so confused to be stood up.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Georgia basketball’s matchup with Tennessee ended in baffling fashion Wednesday night.—
Olivia Sayer,
AJC.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The pilot of a private jet reportedly made an eerie discovery while flying thousands of feet over Rhode Island, marking the latest in unexplained encounters baffling both experts and civilians alike.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
22 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The oven was equally perplexing.—
Jason Fried,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2026
-
It’s been part of a perplexing trend this season for Peterson, who has missed 10 full games and notable portions of 10 others with nagging injuries.—
Justin Williams,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Even a principled, well-meaning actor like Claude could face bewildering ethical conflicts.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
And aren’t our real-life romantic complications bewildering enough?—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In 2021, one year into D’Amaro’s tenure and following COVID shutdowns, Disney did away with FastPass and introduced a confounding and very costly series of pay-to-skip passes, which require timing advanced booking of limited slots in these formerly free-to-enter shorter lines.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The Eagles were a confounding defending champion throughout the regular season.—
Jeff Howe,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Yes, Tuesday night’s concert was also occasionally puzzling in its choices.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Just add it to the list of examples of puzzling goalie interference calls.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) January 31, 2026 Then Peterson played just three minutes in the second half before heading to the bench, limited by the return of nagging injuries that have sidelined him for a good portion of his mystifying rookie season.—
Brendan Marks,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Perimeter shooters went cold, finishing at the rim turned into a mystifying struggle, and the offense wasn’t able to capitalize after creating advantages behind the play by switch-hunting Doncic.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Çatak’s anti-state message acquires an ambiguous power as the movie wends onward, with an enigmatic final shot that finds Aziz tasting clear-skies freedom but still from behind confines of a sort.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Wuthering Heights simultaneously puts too much malevolence on Nelly’s shoulders while also making her final decisions sort of nonsensical, even ambiguous.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disorienting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disorienting. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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