addled

American  

[ad-ld] / ˈæd ld /

adjective

1. confused, especially mentally.

   Given her addled state, the police discounted much of what the witness had to say.

2. (of an egg) not able to produce viable young.

   One of the nests had two chicks and two addled eggs.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of addle.

Other Word Forms

• unaddled adjective

Etymology

Origin of addled

addle ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

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!

Example Sentences

With their shallow root systems, addled by disease, the trees wouldn’t put up much resistance.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

We should not seek ethical guidance from addled entertainers, but we can find insights into our temporal and spiritual condition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

But, like every addled maniac, his hatred lacks focus.

From Salon • Jan. 5, 2025

They bolted at the final note to get backstage for curtain calls and were met with cheers — not a given with European audiences alternately amazed, addled and appalled by reinvented works known as regietheater.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 5, 2024

By the entrance to the compound a few rabbits hopped aimlessly, too addled by their sudden freedom to make a break for it.

From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld

Related Words

• befuddled
• bewildered