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disorient
verb
dis·ori·ent
(ˌ)dis-ˈȯr-ē-ˌent
disoriented; disorienting; disorients
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
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
There’s the music video — still perhaps the greatest of the 21st century so far — full of bathhouse coffins, exploding beds, disorienting contact lenses and bewitching dance moves.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024
Traveling to space — with its jarring g-forces and disorienting weightlessness — can have a variety of effects on the human body, ranging from the uncomfortable to the downright dangerous.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024
Young women are politically activated on campus Trump is trying to galvanize young men who are disoriented by these gender shifts, frequently emphasizing his masculinity in campaign speeches and imagery.
—Fatima Hussein, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2024
Many tools and technologies that are rolling out are dizzying, disorienting and often isolating.
—Sarah Lent, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
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Word History
Etymology
French désorienter, from dés- dis- + orienter to orient
First Known Use
1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Dictionary Entries Near disorient
Cite this Entry
“Disorient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disorient. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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
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