Addled — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈa-dᵊld/ ad·dled

Meaning & Definition of Addled

Addled (adjective)

  1. thrown into confusion, confused
  2. rotten, addle

Addled (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having undergone organic breakdown

    "addled eggs found on a long abandoned hen's nest"

    similar: bad, corrupted, decayed, decomposed, putrefied, putrid, rotten, spoiled
    related: curdled, fermented, off, rancid, rank, sour, soured, sourish, turned, contaminated, defiled, fouled, impure, polluted, tainted, corroded, crumbled, degenerated, deteriorated, disintegrated, decaying, decomposing, disintegrating, mildewy, moldering, moldy, putrefying, putrescent, rotting, gangrenous
    opposite: undecomposed
    near: fresh, good, sweet, preserved, pristine, uncontaminated, undefiled, unpolluted, unspoiled, untainted, untouched

  2. suffering from mental confusion

    "one of the more addled audience members confused Ghana with Guyana"

    similar: addle, addlepated, bedeviled, befogged, befuddled, bemused, bewildered, bushed (chiefly Australian), confounded, confused, dazed, distracted, dizzy, dopey, fogged, mixed-up, muddleheaded, muzzy, pixilated, punch-drunk, punchy, raddled, shell-shocked, silly, slaphappy, spaced-out, spacey, stunned, stupefied, zonked, zonked-out, at sea, out of it
    related: senseless, unconscious
    opposite: clearheaded
    near: alert, conscious

Addled (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to throw into a state of mental uncertainty

    "after slipping on the ice, Bethany was so addled that she left her groceries where they'd fallen"

    similar: baffled, bamboozled, beat, befogged, befuddled, bemused, bewildered, buffaloed, confounded, confused, discombobulated, disoriented, flummoxed, foxed, fuddled, got, graveled, mazed, muddied, muddled, mystified, perplexed, posed, puzzled, vexed, blew one's mind, went to one's head
    related: stuck, stumped, weirded out, abashed, discomfited, disconcerted, discountenanced, embarrassed, fazed, flustered, mortified, nonplussed, rattled, agitated, bothered, chagrined, discomforted, discomposed, dismayed, disquieted, distressed, disturbed, perturbed, stunned, unhinged, unsettled, upset, beguiled, cozened, deceived, deluded, duped, fooled, gulled, hoaxed, hoodwinked, humbugged, misguided, misled, snowed, strung along, took in, tricked
    near: assured, reassured, satisfied, enlightened, informed

Related Entry: Addle (verb)

Addle is a different word from Addled. The synonyms below are for addle, not for addled.

  1. to throw into a state of mental uncertainty

    "after slipping on the ice, Bethany was so addled that she left her groceries where they'd fallen"

    similar: baffle, bamboozle, beat, befog, befuddle, bemuse, bewilder, buffalo, confound, confuse, discombobulate, disorient, flummox, fox, fuddle, get, gravel, maze, muddle, muddy, mystify, perplex, pose, puzzle, vex, blow one's mind, go to one's head
    related: stick, stump, weird out, abash, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle, agitate, bother, chagrin, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, stun, unhinge, unsettle, upset, beguile, cozen, deceive, delude, dupe, fool, gull, hoax, hoodwink, humbug, misguide, mislead, snow, string along, take in, trick
    near: assure, reassure, satisfy, enlighten, inform

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Addled

The most common words with a similar meaning to Addled:

Chiefly Australian: bushed
bad, corrupted, decayed, decomposed, putrefied, putrid, rotten, spoiled, addle, addlepated, bedeviled, befogged, befuddled, bemused, bewildered, confounded, confused, dazed, distracted, dizzy, dopey, fogged, mixed-up, muddleheaded, muzzy, pixilated, punch-drunk, punchy, raddled, shell-shocked, silly, slaphappy, spaced-out, spacey, stunned, stupefied, zonked, zonked-out, at sea, out of it

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Addled

Words with the opposite meaning of Addled:

undecomposed, clearheaded

Related Words for Addled

curdled, fermented, off, rancid, rank, sour, soured, sourish, turned, contaminated, defiled, fouled, impure, polluted, tainted, corroded, crumbled, degenerated, deteriorated, disintegrated, decaying, decomposing, disintegrating, mildewy, moldering, moldy, putrefying, putrescent, rotting, gangrenous

Near Antonyms of Addled

fresh, good, sweet, preserved, pristine, uncontaminated, undefiled, unpolluted, unspoiled, untainted, untouched, alert, conscious, assured, reassured, satisfied, enlightened, informed

Origin & Etymology of Addled

variant of addle:1, with the adjective suffix -ed:1

First known use: 1599

Frequently Asked Questions about Addled

What does "Addled" mean?

"Addled" means thrown into confusion, confused. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: thrown into confusion, confused. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Addled"?

Other words for "Addled" include bad, corrupted, decayed, decomposed, putrefied, putrid, rotten and spoiled. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Addled" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Addled"?

There are 136 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Addled". Common alternatives include bad, corrupted, decayed, decomposed, putrefied, putrid, rotten, spoiled, addle and addlepated.

What is the opposite of "Addled"?

Antonyms of "Addled" include undecomposed and clearheaded. Near antonyms include fresh, good, sweet and preserved.

How do you use "Addled" in a sentence?

Examples of "Addled" in a sentence: "addled eggs found on a long abandoned hen's nest"; "one of the more addled audience members confused Ghana with Guyana"; "after slipping on the ice, Bethany was so addled that she left her groceries where they'd fallen".

Is "Addled" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Addled" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Addled"?

"Addled" is pronounced /ˈa-dᵊld/ and divided into syllables as ad·dled.

What is the origin of the word "Addled"?

"Addled" comes from variant of addle:1, with the adjective suffix -ed:1. First known use: 1599.