addle

1 of 2

adjective

ad·​dle ˈa-dᵊl 

1

of an egg : rotten

2

: confused

addle

2 of 2

verb

addled; addling ˈad-liŋ 

ˈa-dᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

: to throw into confusion : confound

intransitive verb

1

: to become rotten : spoil

2

: to become confused

Synonyms

Adjective

• addled
• addlepated
• bedeviled
• befogged
• befuddled
• bemused
• bewildered
• bushed [chiefly Australian]
• confounded
• confused
• dazed
• distracted
• dizzy
• dopey
• dopy
• fogged
• mixed-up
• muddleheaded
• muzzy
• pixilated
• pixillated
• punch-drunk
• punchy
• raddled
• shell-shocked
• silly
• slaphappy
• spaced-out
• spaced
• spacey
• spacy
• stunned
• stupefied
• zonked
• zonked-out

Verb

• baffle
• bamboozle
• beat
• befog
• befuddle
• bemuse
• bewilder
• buffalo
• confound
• confuse
• discombobulate
• disorient
• flummox
• fox
• fuddle
• get
• gravel
• maze
• muddle
• muddy
• mystify
• perplex
• pose
• puzzle
• vex

Examples of addle in a Sentence

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

The surfer is increasingly addled by visions that come to him in harrowing split-second blackouts. —Glenn Kenny, New York Times, 1 May 2025

Under the influence of drugs and addled by delusions that Miles Armstead was to blame for his family’s fortunes, Thomas began ruthlessly harassing the couple. —Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2025

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

Verb

probably back-formation from addled

First Known Use

Adjective

1682, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1652, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for addle

• paddle
• saddle
• straddle

Kids Definition

addle

verb

ad·​dle

ˈad-ᵊl

addled; addling

ˈad-liŋ,

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to make or become confused

2

: to become rotten : spoil

addled eggs