Synonyms for addle

Most common

puzzle · confuse · muddle · baffle

All synonyms

Verb

Adjective

Definitions

1. v. 1

   To make or become addled; to muddle or confuse.

2. adj. 1

   Having lost the power of development, and become rotten; putrid.

Related words

Word family

addle-brain addlebrained addlehead addleheaded addle-plot

Forms

Past participle

addled
e.g. addled → confused, muddled, puzzled, baffled…

Example sentences

• puzzle Let's puzzle over Lewis Carroll's Pillow-Problems!
• confuse One should not confuse education with job training.
• muddle Tom was in a real muddle over his holiday plans.
• baffle Ziri's disappearance continues to baffle everybody.

Popularity over time

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

5 letters

muddy², stump¹, ravel²

6 letters

puzzle², puddle², flurry², dazzle², muddle², baffle²

7 letters

confuse², disturb², perturb², mystify³, perplex², fluster²

8 letters

distract², abortive³, confound², entangle³, bewilder³, befuddle³

9 letters

embarrass³

10 letters

disconcert³

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (muddy² = 2 syllables).