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
According to reports, Kennedy became disoriented while flying through thick fog over the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, which caused the plane to spiral downward and crash into the ocean.
—
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 26 Mar. 2026
This device simulates zero-G by flipping and disorienting the cells placed within it.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
The man told the firefighters that he had been disoriented in the area for the previous two days, Cal Fire officials said.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Why does this disorienting illusion work?
—Nora Bradford, Scientific American, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disorient
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 26 Mar. 2026
This device simulates zero-G by flipping and disorienting the cells placed within it.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
The man told the firefighters that he had been disoriented in the area for the previous two days, Cal Fire officials said.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Why does this disorienting illusion work?
—Nora Bradford, Scientific American, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disorient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disorient
Verb
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As if that wasn’t confusing enough, not all Christians agree on what day of the calendar that specific Sunday is.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
4 Apr. 2026
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This was not to be confused with the Ulster Volunteer Force or the Ulster Defence Association, both terrorist organizations that vehemently favored the link with Britain.—
Colm Tóibín,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There aren’t many ways to earn a club’s first win better than bewildering the league’s defending champions at their place.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
26 Mar. 2026
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Now, many millions of Americans are bewildered by events.—
David French,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Their presence prompted nervousness among beachgoers and surfers sharing the water, but marveled researchers who were perplexed by the abnormally longer stay close to shore.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
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These are the brutally real snapshots of a man well acquainted with—but still perplexed by—the powerful and destructive forces that lord over our lives.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His disaffection baffles his acquaintances and pains his tubercular wife (a superb Quinn Jackson), whose doctor (Lambert Tamin) has only contempt for her husband’s agonizing.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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The Late Show host appeared genuinely baffled by the president’s current poll numbers during his opening monologue on Tuesday, mostly due to the 22 percent of Americans who are still throwing their support behind the 79-year-old former reality star.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Given its history, Larkin might seem a puzzling choice to partner with a state agency charged with protecting elders who cannot care for themselves.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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This gap has puzzled researchers for years.—
Rhonda Winegar,
The Conversation,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disorient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disorient. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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