discombobulate

[ dis-kuhm-bob-yuh-leyt ]

verb (used with object)

, dis·com·bob·u·lat·ed, dis·com·bob·u·lat·ing.

1. Informal. to confuse or disconcert; confound; bewilder:

   The speaker was completely discombobulated by the hecklers.

   Synonyms: upset, perturb, disturb, agitate, nonplus, dumbfound, befuddle

discombobulate

/ ˌdɪskəmˈbɒbjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. informal.
   tr to throw into confusion

Other Words From

• dis·com·bob·u·la·tion [dis-k, uh, m-bob-y, uh, -, ley, -sh, uh, n], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of discombobulate¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1825–35; fanciful alteration of discompose or discomfort

Word History and Origins

Origin of discombobulate¹

C20: probably a whimsical alteration of discompose or discomfit

Example Sentences

“Hillary Clinton did not lose because she was a woman. She lost because she was Hillary Clinton. She didn’t campaign hard enough, skipping Wisconsin and barely visiting Michigan. She got discombobulated about gender …”

From Los Angeles Times

Biden appeared discombobulated, prompting calls from Democrats that he leave the race.

From Los Angeles Times

Wrapped in white vinyl, it featured psychedelic projection mapping on its exterior and could be seen from across the playa — a convenient beacon while slashing through the night in a discombobulated state.

From Los Angeles Times

The Democrats’ full-throated embrace of patriotism discombobulated Republicans, who have always tried to claim the flag and freedom as their own.

From Los Angeles Times

“Hart states he was discombobulated and not in control of his actions but implies that Sabbag was aware of the camera’s placement. Hart suggests Sabbag knew where to position herself and Hart to be recorded.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• befuddle
• bewilder
• confound
• disconcert
• fluster

More About Discombobulate

Where does discombobulate come from?

Discombobulate, meaning “to confuse, frustrate,” sounds like something straight out of a cartoon. It was first recorded in the form discomboberate in the early 1800s, and apparently originated as a humorous imitation of hifalutin-sounding Latin words. We can also detect  the influence of words with similar senses like discomfit or discompose in it.

Many more amusing Americanisms await in our slideshow “These Wacky Words Originated In The USA.”

Did you know … ?

Discombobulate has some shorter (but arguably less-fun-to-say) synonyms in baffle, befuddle, and frustrate.

Straighten all this discombobulation out with more synonyms on Thesaurus.com. Try the word confuse, for starters.

Discombobulate also has some notable pop culture connections. The score of the 2009 film Sherlock Holmes features a track entitled “Discombobulate,” composed by Hans Zimmer. That title takes its name from a line spoken by the title character during a memorable boxing match, which spawned a meme known as Discombobulate.