as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
in my discombobulation I mistook a bathroom door for an exit
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Recent Examples of discombobulation
There was a little bit of discombobulation on the street.
—
Amy Amatangelo, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
In a couple of fleetingly brilliant moments, the director visualizes characters' discombobulation with aggressive blurring and dizzying superimpositions.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
The discombobulation of college athletics contributed to their hasty exits.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
In true festival style, and much to the discombobulation of Dot and Betty, this interview with Kwapis and the Wiggin sisters took place in the lobby of a very busy hotel on the day of We Are the Shaggs’ world premiere at SXSW.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2026
In the weeks prior to the performance, Cassils was subject to a debilitating case of vertigo as their body somatized the disorientation and discombobulation of this historical moment.
—Gayatri Gopinath, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025
Amy Amatangelo, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
In a couple of fleetingly brilliant moments, the director visualizes characters' discombobulation with aggressive blurring and dizzying superimpositions.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
The discombobulation of college athletics contributed to their hasty exits.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
In true festival style, and much to the discombobulation of Dot and Betty, this interview with Kwapis and the Wiggin sisters took place in the lobby of a very busy hotel on the day of We Are the Shaggs’ world premiere at SXSW.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2026
In the weeks prior to the performance, Cassils was subject to a debilitating case of vertigo as their body somatized the disorientation and discombobulation of this historical moment.
—Gayatri Gopinath, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discombobulation
Noun
-
Invite someone in, agree on a clear next step, and follow through together so momentum builds without confusion or mixed signals.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
-
After shooting, there was initial confusion as to what had happened before journalists were able to reach their news outlets to report the details of what unfolded.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These sensors enable real-time monitoring across a wide range of conditions, including low light, fog, and obstructed environments, while onboard AI and machine-learning classifiers help identify and flag potential threats.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
-
His 2025 tape, WOMB, embodied this through his pensive grumbles over wispy vocal chops; each bar that cut through the fog was steeped in sober gravitas.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This can happen due to your natural hair texture, dryness, or environmental stressors like wind, friction from your pillowcase, or pollution—your cuticles can catch on each other like Velcro, Small says, causing tangles.—
Sarah Felbin,
Allure,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Across the street, through a thick tangle of forest, the Khodymchuks’ building stood tall and gray in the snow.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discombobulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discombobulation. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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