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

Sometimes the disorienting perspective is more universally applied. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2024

According to officials, the child was pale, disoriented, and appeared to have wet herself. —Coleby Phillips, The Arizona Republic, 18 June 2024

But impressionistic techniques — thermal imaging, disorienting perspectives and digital image-stitching — present viewers a scene as only the D.C. artist can see it. —Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 14 June 2024

The new zoning code also restricts night lighting, which can help prevent migrating birds from becoming disoriented. —Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 5 June 2024

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