Adjective
my brain grew more and more addle as I made my way through the tax instructions Verb
It's a dangerous poison that's strong enough to addle the brain.
Their brains were addled with fear.
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Adjective
Soon enough, the foursome are in the back of that truck in an adventure that begins as a moneymaking scheme and promises to become a heroic journey into the heart of white supremacy at its most virulent and addle-minded.—Ann Hornaday, Twin Cities, 25 July 2019
Verb
But sorry, who can listen to this and not think, this is abnormal?
Business
Column: California’s transgender sanctuary law survives a challenge as judge ridicules plaintiff’s claims
April 11, 2024
No one, other than people so addled by transgender-paranoia.—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2024 Writer’s block was extreme, and the alcohol had addled his mind.—Vulture, 31 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for addle
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English adel- (in adel eye "putrid egg"), attributive use of Old English adela "filth, filthy or foul-smelling place," going back to Germanic *adela-, *adelōn- (whence Middle Dutch ael "liquid manure," Middle Low German ādel, ādele, Middle High German —east Upper German— adel, regional Swedish adel, al "animal urine"), of obscure origin
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