addled
Americanadjective
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confused, especially mentally.
Given her addled state, the police discounted much of what the witness had to say.
-
(of an egg) not able to produce viable young.
One of the nests had two chicks and two addled eggs.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of addled
Explanation
To be addled is to be fuzzy in the head, a little foggy and confused. When you're addled, you're having trouble thinking. If your favorite movie star walks by and says hello, you might be too addled to say hi back. Sometimes it's hard to think and you feel slow and befuddled. When your brain feels like it's stuck in some mental mud, you're addled. People are addled for many reasons. When you first wake up, you probably feel addled. Drinking too much makes people feel addled. A confusing situation can make you feel addled. Being in love, star struck, drunk, sleepy, or sick can make you feel addled. Avoid big decisions and important tests when you’re addled!
Vocabulary lists containing addled
The Bluest Eye
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Uglies
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Slaughterhouse-Five
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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.
With their shallow root systems, addled by disease, the trees wouldn’t put up much resistance.
From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026
Los Angeles and Tucson, Ariz. Despite many close friendships, especially with women, he was at heart a loner, conditioned, possibly, by clinical depression, for which he sought electroshock therapy even though it addled his brain.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026
For 18 years, Clayton Kershaw pitched through the gamut of emotions as both a hero and a villain, moments of euphoria addled with spells of despair, picturesque summers disappearing into the wicked wilds of October.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 18, 2025
But, like every addled maniac, his hatred lacks focus.
From Salon • Jan. 5, 2025
His little brother would murmur and be addled in his sleep tonight, the boy thought.
From "Sounder" by William H. Armstrong
Definitions 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.
