discombobulate

American  

[dis-kuhm-bob-yuh-leyt] / ˌdɪs kəmˈbɒb yəˌleɪt /

verb (used with object)

discombobulated, discombobulating

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 British  

/ ˌdɪskəmˈbɒbjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. informal (tr) to throw into confusion

---

Usage

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."

Other Word Forms

• discombobulation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of discombobulate

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

Explanation

Discombobulate is a fun, fancy word for “confuse.” If something has put you in a state where you don't know up from down and you can't spell your own name, you may be discombobulated. Discombobulate kind of sounds like you feel when you're disoriented: bouncing around in several directions at once. Trying to say discombobulate for the first time might discombobulate you! Because of its funny sound, discombobulate is often used in a humorous way. Are you ready to assemble some furniture, or are you too discombobulated after reading the instructions?

Related Words

• befuddle
• bewilder
• confound
• disconcert
• fluster