addled

[ ad-ld ]

adjective

1. confused, especially mentally:

   Given her addled state, the police discounted much of what the witness had to say.

2. (of an egg) not able to produce viable young:

   One of the nests had two chicks and two addled eggs.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of addle ( def ).

Other Words From

• un·ad·dled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of addled¹

addle ( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

Untold thousands of pain-addled patients had become hooked on what opioids provided, as had many young people who’d begun experimenting with the pills recreationally.

From Time

So instead I cracked the window, lit another one of the cigarettes I was too young to legally purchase, and surrendered to a driver who made even the most addled yellow cab driver seem like a somnolent senior in comparison.

From Outside Online

These bicyclists can unsettle the pedestrians—who, while watching for drivers, must also contend with the addled cyclists who are variously occupying their crosswalk—or even using the streetscape as a racecourse.

From Outside Online

Even his addled brain comprehends that only one other creature on Earth understands his true nature.

From Time

Even as Tenev wrangles toddlers at home, he’ll need to bring discipline to a company prone to behaving like a hormone-addled teenager.

From Fortune

It finally looks like New York, which is perpetually addled by traffic, will be constructing a new expressway.

From The Daily Beast

Iggy's relatively mature response to this drug-addled drivel?

From The Daily Beast

People worked all hours, often addled with booze and drugs, and casual sex was readily available.

From The Daily Beast

Similarly irresistible to newscasters was the notion of drug-addled newborns—and warnings of a “crack baby” epidemic.

From The Daily Beast

The context of you being a mixed-up, hormone-addled seventh-grader when you read it, alone in your bedroom.

From The Daily Beast

But Colonel L'Estrange, who had been there about a fortnight before, found two addled eggs, but saw no birds.

From Project Gutenberg

I know ye make a dandy good district marshal, but ye are slippin'—goin' addled 'bout this funeral business.

From Project Gutenberg

His brain must be addled by having had too much to drink this morning.

From Project Gutenberg

Come, tell me in what decent tavern you have addled your brain?

From Project Gutenberg

Now in my poor addled brain I had an idea you were engaged for to-night at your aunt's, Lady Blackfriars'.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• befuddled
• bewildered