discombobulate

verb

ˌdis-kəm-ˈbä-b(y)ə-ˌlāt How to pronounce discombobulate (audio)
Definition of discombobulatenext
as in to bewilder
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty our grandmother seems a bit discombobulated by all of this birthday fuss

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of discombobulate Thing to tell a friend or colleague today For the collectible sticker community, Brazil vs Morocco was a particularly discombobulating experience. — Duncan Alexander, New York Times, 14 June 2026 Richard Dreyfuss stars as an Indiana electric lineman/dad who gets discombobulated after a light from a passing UFO compels him to do weirdo things — like build a mountain replica inside of his home. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 8 June 2026 The story of Game Two should also feature Jose Alvarado, who scored all of two points and played only ten minutes but seemed to discombobulate the Spurs with his fearlessness and his speed. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 7 June 2026 Jackson Merrill is too talented to be this discombobulated much longer. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for discombobulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discombobulate
  1. bewilder
  2. confuse
  3. baffle
  4. perplex
  5. puzzle
  6. befuddle
Verb
  • Many Eagles players were concerned and bewildered by the development.
    — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Latif is conflicted by his double life, bewildered by his doubling of parental responsibilities, constantly trying to think two moves ahead yet always ending up three steps behind.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of bewilder
Verb
  • Bill Belichick has made a Hall of Fame career on confusing young quarterbacks.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Splitter praises his movement on and off the ball, which seems to visibly confuse opposing defenses.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of confuse
Verb
  • But Danny Niemela, a contractor at ArDan Construction, says that the process baffles him.
    — Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Beyond being frustrated with the secrecy, locals said they were baffled by the lack of specifics and clarity the stakeholders had about the project, per the records.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of baffle
Verb
  • At Telluride, Fielder, who had initially planned to stay behind the scenes, admitted he was still perplexed by the couple’s openness.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • They were perplexed at first, flummoxed, but pleasant, and unfortunately for them, already long gone from the airport.
    — Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of perplex
Verb
  • To read her book is to be reminded that childhood can be a puzzling passage for anyone, even in an ostensibly simpler time and place.
    — Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Oct. 2026
  • That the Houthis are able to score hits from 500 miles away, despite the Saudi military spending tens of billions of dollars on multi-layered air defense systems, has puzzled experts.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of puzzle
Verb
  • That coach’s befuddlement befuddles me, almost as much as Bowles’ decision.
    — Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Byrd and DeSantis each noted the many election law changes Florida has instituted since the infamous 2000 presidential election recount — where Palm Beach County’s butterfly ballots befuddled many voters in a razor-thin race.
    — Gray Rohrer, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of befuddle

Browse Nearby Words

discolors
discombobulate
discombobulated
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Cite this Entry

“Discombobulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discombobulate. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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