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
There are many misconceptions about immigrants in Los Angeles, but none more disorienting than the canard — so popular among Trump administration representatives — that those immigrants who arrived without papers somehow live apart from the rest of the city.
—
Jim Newton, Mercury News, 27 June 2025
However, these ethically disorienting effects can only last so long.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 19 June 2025
The moths were totally disoriented, flying every which way at random.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 18 June 2025
At first this is disorienting, but Bloom’s bold plot choices challenge and enrich.
—Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for disorient
Jim Newton, Mercury News, 27 June 2025
However, these ethically disorienting effects can only last so long.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 19 June 2025
The moths were totally disoriented, flying every which way at random.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 18 June 2025
At first this is disorienting, but Bloom’s bold plot choices challenge and enrich.
—Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for disorient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disorient
Verb
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By 1915, scientists unearthed 2 million bones of large animals from La Brea, and a pattern emerged that both excited and confused them: too many predators.—
Ian Rose,
JSTOR Daily,
23 July 2025
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Two people can deliver the same message, but their delivery style can make the difference between motivating and confusing a team.—
Kendra MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Verb
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Still, my friends and I, specifically those who were teen-agers or older at the time of 9/11, have been bewildered by the Islamophobia of the moment, which feels especially vintage and plainspoken, not massaged into obfuscatory rhetoric or angling for any greater point.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
13 July 2025
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In the moment, Kyle looked bewildered that the musician had singled him out, smiling with his mouth open in shock.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
20 May 2025
Verb
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At the time, I was perplexed and questioned if this was necessary.—
Susan Horava,
Health,
24 June 2025
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Ultimately, the remaining Islanders dumped Jeremiah and Hannah, a controversial move that left viewers at home perplexed as to why this decision was made.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
23 June 2025
Verb
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Money terms and concepts continue to baffle people, many of whom are seeking answers through online searches.—
Russ Wiles,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
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Even with the other guys' admonitions not to, under any circumstances, be themselves, Dee and Charlie's improbable success in charming these scions of the Philly upper crust had the guys — and us — both baffled and anxiously awaiting an ugly twist.—
Dennis Perkins,
EW.com,
10 July 2025
Verb
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One especially puzzling discovery is shown in a narrow closet.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
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Another puzzling question was what to do with the long, narrow goat stable.—
Aileen Weintraub,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disorient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disorient. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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