1
as in rotten
having undergone organic breakdown
addled eggs found on a long abandoned hen's nest
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dazed
suffering from mental confusion
one of the more addled audience members confused Ghana with Guyana
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in bewildered
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
after slipping on the ice, Bethany was so addled that she left her groceries where they'd fallen
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of addled
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Back at the Harris rally, Carvey came out as a squinting and addled Biden, talking in circles before Harris finally tried to push him off the stage.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 28 Sep. 2024
In the span of about a week, she’s become an icon for our addled times.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2024
Season 4 opens with a slap to the face, which involves the addled actions of slow horse agent River Cartwright’s (Jack Lowden) grandfather David (Jonathan Pryce) — a former MI5 figure with clout.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for addled
Adjective
The episode hinges on Novak’s ability to sell Nandor’s transformation from seemingly addled while lecturing a warehouse full of mannequins, to roguishly determined when commanding his followers to set Dartmouth University on fire.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Back at the Harris rally, Carvey came out as a squinting and addled Biden, talking in circles before Harris finally tried to push him off the stage.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 28 Sep. 2024
In the span of about a week, she’s become an icon for our addled times.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2024
Season 4 opens with a slap to the face, which involves the addled actions of slow horse agent River Cartwright’s (Jack Lowden) grandfather David (Jonathan Pryce) — a former MI5 figure with clout.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for addled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for addled
Adjective
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The smell of rotten eggs, from when officials carted her off to quarantine without letting her refrigerate her groceries, is long gone.—
Vivian Wang,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2025
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There weren’t just ‘rotten kids hanging out at the mall,’ as was said in those days.—
Kyle Newman,
The Denver Post,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Seconds earlier, Allat arrives on the scene and finds a man injured on the road, dazed and holding his knee.—
Michael Dorgan,
Fox News,
7 Mar. 2025
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When Diana Ross announced her as the 1974 winner, a dazed Flack put her hand over her mouth.—
Paul Grein,
Billboard,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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More than a year later, the campus remains in a state of bewildered unease.—
Nathan Heller,
The New Yorker,
3 Mar. 2025
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But for many bewildered observers, both explanations for Trump’s extraordinary pivot to the Kremlin seem equally misplaced.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Imagine how confused ordinary taxpayers are by this ridiculous, irresponsible, intergovernmental spat.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2025
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Tuna was both curious and confused as to why Evelyn dared to leave his side.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Who remembers the 2005 headline-making story of how Banksy snuck a painting into the Metropolitan Museum of Art disguised with a fake beard and trench coat, while two accomplices argued with a distracted security guard?—
The Editors of ARTnews,
ARTnews.com,
18 Mar. 2025
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Ivy seemed slightly distracted by Gable’s sudden appearance, which allowed Dakota Kai to open with a flurry of offense.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Her dizzy socialite Tanya brought a hilariously chaotic energy to The White Lotus’ first two seasons, and without her, things do get a little darker and more thoughtful in Season 3.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
13 Feb. 2025
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Now, these two Englishmen turn their attention to the dizzy industry heights of Los Angeles — where Park has claimed victory four times before, of course — with stops at the animation world’s Annie Awards and the BAFTAs on the way.—
Lily Ford,
The Hollywood Reporter,
10 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Addled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/addled. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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