disoriented
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of disoriented
Explanation
To be disoriented is to feel lost or confused. People who are disoriented either don’t know where they are because they’ve lost their sense of direction, or they don’t know who they are because they’ve lost their sense of self. Disoriented people feel confused, particularly about place and purpose. If you’ve ever been lost in a new city, you’ve felt disoriented. If you bring a squirrel into your house, it’ll probably be disoriented and bonk into a wall. Getting a concussion could make you disoriented. Diseases like Alzheimer’s can make people feel disoriented. Being disoriented is a confusing, scary feeling. Disoriented comes from the French word that means "to turn from the east."
Vocabulary lists containing disoriented
The Kite Runner
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Sea of Monsters
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Unteachables
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Peta says birds can become "frightened, disoriented and panicked" in stadium environments, putting themselves and fans at risk.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026
Just when he’s got you disoriented and distracted, he strikes, boring you to death.
From Salon ● Sep. 2, 2026
She once recalled wandering into a flowery field and becoming disoriented among the seemingly endless stalks and blooms—a sensation she likened to “obliteration” and would seek to re-create in her art.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
Prior to going missing Smyth had contacted rescuers from Tiganesti to say he was disoriented and physically exhausted.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
There was also the problem of them putting the odd item they found in the dust into their mouths; I saved the lives of a couple of beetles and a disoriented night crawler that way.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
