disoriented

[ dis-awr-ee-en-tid, -ohr- ]

adjective

1. confused as to time or place; out of touch:

   therapy for disoriented patients.

   Synonyms: unhinged, unstable, distracted

Word History and Origins

Origin of disoriented¹

disorient + -ed ²

Example Sentences

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when everyone was disoriented and either fearing devastating new attacks or hysterically screaming for vengeance, he kept his head.

From Salon

As Williams rams her finger against a console button to lower her window, any fear that her disoriented passengers are experiencing as the incident seemingly escalates quickly gives way to dumbfounded laughter.

From Los Angeles Times

The claim alleges that an officer armed with a shotgun, presumably Steelmon, reportedly yelled at Lopez — who “appeared dazed and disoriented and stared straight ahead through the front windshield” — in English to put his hands in the air, and Lopez complied.

From Los Angeles Times

As the weeks progressed, the book says, Nori tried to make the case to a disoriented Whibley that what they were doing was worth exploring because “so many of my rock star idols were queer. … Most people are bisexual; they’re just too afraid to admit it.”

From Los Angeles Times

But some groups, he added, had become completely disoriented because of a communication blackout.

From BBC

Related Words

• adrift
• astray
• bewildered
• lost
• perplexed
• unhinged
• unsettled