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

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

Though he’d been addled by the ailment, he understood that his son had managed to preserve the family business.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2025

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

From Salon • Jan. 5, 2025

But the boy was full of mixed hate and pity now, and it addled him.

From "Sounder" by William H. Armstrong

Related Words

• befuddled
• bewildered