disorient

verb

dis·​ori·​ent (ˌ)dis-ˈȯr-ē-ˌent 

disoriented; disorienting; disorients

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to lose bearings : displace from normal position or relationship

b

: to cause to lose the sense of time, place, or identity

2

: confuse

Synonyms of disorient

• confuse
• bewilder
• perplex
• baffle
• puzzle

Examples of disorient in a Sentence

Thick fog can disorient even an experienced hiker.

troops disoriented by the sudden change in battle plans

Recent Examples on the Web

Video from Peters' livestream that night showed him appearing increasingly disoriented before the stream abruptly ended, raising concern among viewers. —Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026

Micro-drama actors can be further disoriented by the scripts themselves. —Chang Che, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026

For someone who studied political science and theology, that shift has been disorienting. —Nicole Russell, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026

For someone who has spent a lot of time in traditional museums with windowless galleries, the experience was disorienting in the best way. —John Wogan, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French désorienter, from dés- dis- + orienter to orient

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for disorient

• circumvent
• discontent
• fundament
• malcontent
• occident
• orient
• president
• reinvent
• represent
• underwent
• accent
• advent

Kids Definition

disorient

verb

dis·​ori·​ent (ˈ)dis-ˈōr-ē-ˌent 

-ˈȯr-

: to cause to be confused or lost

Medical Definition

disorient

transitive verb

dis·​ori·​ent (ˈ)dis-ˈōr-ē-ˌent, -ˈȯr- 

: to produce a state of disorientation in : disorientate

the next day the patient was disoriented but not comatose

—The Journal of the American Medical Association