as in to bewilder
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
our grandmother seems a bit discombobulated by all of this birthday fuss
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Recent Examples of discombobulate
To completely discombobulate him, someone like me heaving all over him with lips and eyes and bosom, to turn this nerd.
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Vulture, 29 Dec. 2022
Authorities said a beam of light aimed at an aircraft could discombobulate and even temporarily blind the pilot in the cockpit.
—Matt Bruce, ajc, 30 July 2022
Scientists have known for years about bony fish, sharks, worms, jellies, corals, and other marine creatures that light up to attract mates, lure prey, or discombobulate predators.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2021
These molecular tests search the genomic manuscript with about as much precision as the Ctrl+F function on a computer, which means that even single-letter typos—that is, simple RNA mutations—can discombobulate them.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 June 2021
See all Example Sentences for discombobulate 
Vulture, 29 Dec. 2022
Authorities said a beam of light aimed at an aircraft could discombobulate and even temporarily blind the pilot in the cockpit.
—Matt Bruce, ajc, 30 July 2022
Scientists have known for years about bony fish, sharks, worms, jellies, corals, and other marine creatures that light up to attract mates, lure prey, or discombobulate predators.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2021
These molecular tests search the genomic manuscript with about as much precision as the Ctrl+F function on a computer, which means that even single-letter typos—that is, simple RNA mutations—can discombobulate them.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 June 2021
See all Example Sentences for discombobulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discombobulate
Verb
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When Daphna posed the question to the room, Annie looked bewildered.Julia Whelan Krish Seenivasan Lance Neal, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024
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TikTok user Shannon Dudley Jr., a commercial fisherman from Everglades City, Florida, shared a video of the strange sight that has bewildered viewers.Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
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These tools blur the line between reality and fiction, which can confuse audiences, especially younger viewers.Gerui Wang, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
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However, her version is not to be confused with the film’s official soundtrack.Angel Saunders, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Since the middle of November, unidentified unmanned aerial vehicles have lit up the skies above New Jersey, startling residents and baffling military and government officials.Jared Keller, WIRED, 13 Dec. 2024
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At the same time, improving baffling construction can allow down to more efficiently cover specific areas to increase warmth without adding weight.Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
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At first, Benji’s friends and family were perplexed.Amelia Tait, WIRED, 5 Dec. 2024
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Dollar said she was perplexed by the explanation because her supervisor Kado-Fong had been trying to get the OK to have Dollar receive training to prepare her for the technician role.Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Just how its unique skin is formed has puzzled scientists–until now.Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Dec. 2024
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The report reflects a puzzling rise in the rates of certain cancers, such as colorectal cancer, among younger patients.Tina Reed, Axios, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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But no one was more befuddled by their presence than Fallon himself, who couldn’t even bring himself to go through the motions of the interview.Kate Lindsay, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2024
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The Crimson Tide’s case consists of wins over No. 7 Georgia, No. 15 South Carolina and No. 21 Missouri, judged against three losses: to Vanderbilt by five, at Playoff-bound Tennessee and last week’s befuddling 24-3 defeat at Oklahoma.Kennington Smith III, The Athletic, 1 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Discombobulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discombobulate. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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