addle

[ ad-l ]

verb (used with or without object)

, ad·dled, ad·dling.

1. to make or become confused.
2. to make or become rotten, as eggs.

adjective

1. mentally confused; muddled.
2. rotten ( def 1 ):

   addle eggs.

addle

¹

/ ˈædəl /

verb

1. to make or become confused or muddled
2. to make or become rotten

adjective

1. in combination indicating a confused or muddled state

   addle-brained

   addle-pated

addle

²

/ ˈædəl /

verb

1. dialect.
   to earn (money or one's living)

Other Words From

• ad·dled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of addle¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English adel “rotten,” Old English adela “liquid, filth”; cognate with Middle Low German adele “liquid manure”

Word History and Origins

Origin of addle¹

C18: (vb), back formation from addled, from c13 addle rotten, from Old English adela filth; related to dialect German Addel liquid manure

Origin of addle²

C13: addlen, from Old Norse öthlask to gain possession of property, from ōthal property

Example Sentences

Trump’s apparently already addled mind and debauched morals are in terminal decline, and his campaign isn’t doing much right.

From Salon

His staff did everything they could to make it easy on the increasingly addled old man.

From Salon

That means staying on the attack and showing everybody what a great time she’s having cleaning Trump’s addled clock.

From Salon

They bolted at the final note to get backstage for curtain calls and were met with cheers — not a given with European audiences alternately amazed, addled and appalled by reinvented works known as regietheater.

From Seattle Times

His post-conviction appearance at Trump Tower more closely resembled the ravings of an addled person screaming about demons on the subway than a press conference.

From Salon