disorient
verb
dis·ori·ent
(ˌ)dis-ˈȯr-ē-ˌent 
disoriented; disorienting; disorients
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
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
Is that low-time pilot or a pilot who gets task-saturated or overwhelmed or into a circumstance that they get disoriented?
—
Jim Vinoski, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Cat's Protection highlights that most cats will be aware of their surroundings, although they can sometimes be disoriented and react defensively.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
That’s the outcome of the film’s disorienting first act, which begins with a bearded man named Eghbal (Ebrahim Azizi) driving home with his family.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 20 May 2025
Jokić, a player of near-unprecedented efficiency, seems particularly disoriented by OKC’s length and coverage.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for disorient
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Jim Vinoski, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Cat's Protection highlights that most cats will be aware of their surroundings, although they can sometimes be disoriented and react defensively.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
That’s the outcome of the film’s disorienting first act, which begins with a bearded man named Eghbal (Ebrahim Azizi) driving home with his family.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 20 May 2025
Jokić, a player of near-unprecedented efficiency, seems particularly disoriented by OKC’s length and coverage.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for disorient
Cite this Entry
“Disorient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disorient. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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