First Known Use: 1682
Dictionary
1addle
adjective ad·dle \ˈa-dəl\
Definition of ADDLE
1
of an egg : rotten
2
: confused
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Origin of ADDLE
Middle English adel filth, from Old English adela; akin to Middle Low German adele liquid manure
Related to ADDLE
- Synonyms
- dizzy, addled, addlepated, bedeviled, befogged, befuddled, bemused, bewildered, bushed [chiefly Australian], confounded, confused, dazed, distracted, dopey (also dopy), fogged, mixed-up, muddleheaded, muzzy, pixilated (also pixillated), punch-drunk, punchy, raddled, shell-shocked, silly, slaphappy, spaced-out (or spaced), spacey (also spacy), stunned, stupefied, zonked, zonked-out
- Antonyms
- clearheaded, unconfused
2addle
verb
: to make (someone's mind or brain) unable to think clearly
ad·dledad·dling\ˈad-liŋ, ˈa-dəl-iŋ\
Full Definition of ADDLE
transitive verb
: to throw into confusion : confound
intransitive verb
1
: to become rotten : spoil
2
: to become confused
See addle defined for English-language learners
See addle defined for kids
First Known Use of ADDLE
1682
Related to ADDLE
ADDLED Defined for Kids
addle
verb ad·dle \ˈa-dəl\
ad·dledad·dling
Definition of ADDLE for Kids
: to make or become confused <She was addled by the many detours.>
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