disorient

verb

dis·​ori·​ent (ˌ)dis-ˈȯr-ē-ˌent 

disoriented; disorienting; disorients

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to lose bearings : displace from normal position or relationship

b

: to cause to lose the sense of time, place, or identity

2

: confuse

Synonyms

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

Examples of disorient in a Sentence

Thick fog can disorient even an experienced hiker.

troops disoriented by the sudden change in battle plans

Recent Examples on the Web

Most disorienting of all might have been the painful memories conjured by the setting for the ceremony itself, inside the Capitol where, four years and two weeks ago, a violent insurrection of Trump supporters sought to block certification of Biden’s victory. —Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025

As someone who has been there, nothing is worse than being sick and disoriented in a new place, hoping to find a pharmacy. —Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2025

The driver appeared to be hurt and disoriented, and one of the bystanders called 911 while the other approached the driver to help, deputies said. —Sara Schilling, Sacramento Bee, 9 Jan. 2025

His family went to bed, jet-lagged and disoriented. —Jes Aznar, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French désorienter, from dés- dis- + orienter to orient

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

disorient

verb

dis·​ori·​ent (ˈ)dis-ˈōr-ē-ˌent 

-ˈȯr-

: to cause to be confused or lost

Medical Definition

disorient

transitive verb

dis·​ori·​ent (ˈ)dis-ˈōr-ē-ˌent, -ˈȯr- 

: to produce a state of disorientation in : disorientate

the next day the patient was disoriented but not comatose

—The Journal of the American Medical Association