Adjective
my brain grew more and more addle as I made my way through the tax instructions Verb
It's a dangerous poison that's strong enough to addle the brain.
Their brains were addled with fear.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Soon enough, the foursome are in the back of that truck in an adventure that begins as a moneymaking scheme and promises to become a heroic journey into the heart of white supremacy at its most virulent and addle-minded.—Ann Hornaday, Twin Cities, 25 July 2019
Verb
Writer’s block was extreme, and the alcohol had addled his mind.—Vulture, 31 Jan. 2024 Famously formerly addled but now sober and with new management, Adams played a five-show East Coast solo run, including at New York’s Carnegie Hall.—Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, 30 May 2023 See all Example Sentences for addle
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'addle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English adel- (in adel eye "putrid egg"), attributive use of Old English adela "filth, filthy or foul-smelling place," going back to Germanic *adela-, *adelōn- (whence Middle Dutch ael "liquid manure," Middle Low German ādel, ādele, Middle High German —east Upper German— adel, regional Swedish adel, al "animal urine"), of obscure origin
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