scatterbrained

British  

/ ˈskætəˌbreɪnd /

adjective

1. exhibiting or characterized by lack of serious thought or concentration; disorganized; silly

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Explanation

When you're feeling scatterbrained, you're confused and rattled. Many people feel a little scatterbrained when they first wake up in the morning, before they've had their coffee. The adjective scatterbrained is perfect for describing someone who's disorganized, flighty, and maybe a little silly. A scatterbrained teacher might spend ten minutes looking for his glasses before realizing, to the amusement of his class, that they're on his head. You might feel scatterbrained if you show up for an appointment on the wrong day, and you can call yourself a scatterbrain. Both words have been used in English since the mid-1700s to describe easily distracted people.

Example Sentences

That was kind of a splat of my scatter-brained creativity and is heavily focused on pasta.

From Salon • Nov. 19, 2023

"It is absolutely essential that we stay focused on how in this transitional period, nobody loses their head, nobody goes off half-cock, people don't start moving on scatter-brained or revengeful premises," Kerry added.

From Reuters • Jun. 27, 2016

There were plenty of factors involved in all this, not the least of which is Watson’s scatter-brained nature, an admitted struggle with one of the most essential elements of golf: focus.

From Washington Post • Apr. 12, 2014

Overall, the issue presents a scatter-brained, superficial view of innovation that you would expect from an amateur dilettante, not the world’s greatest magazine.

From Forbes • May 19, 2013

Next comes Colonel Charles Featherstone, a wild, scatter-brained soldier, who lost all his fortune in speculation in your American cotton and grain futures.

From The King's Men A Tale of To-morrow by Grant, Robert