disorients
Makes one lost
Disorients means to cause someone to lose their sense of direction or bearings.
A sudden fog disorients hikers; jet lag disorients travelers.
The word extends to mental confusion—unexpected news can disorient someone, leaving them uncertain how to respond: The contradictory instructions completely disoriented the new employee.
Also spelled disorientates, especially in British English.
Fails to retain
- confusesCauses mental disarray
- turns aroundReverses one's orientation
- spinsRotates rapidly around center
- dizziesInduces spatial disorientation
vertigo · labyrinth · maze · unfamiliar · navigation · compass · landmarks · directions
Sends the wrong way
- misguidesDirects incorrectly
- deceivesCauses false belief
- deludesTricks into false belief
- leads astrayCauses to err
confuses · tricks · fools · misinforms · throws off · derails · sidetracks · diverts
Causes unease or interruption
- unnervesCauses loss of confidence
- destabilizesUndermines steadiness or equilibrium
- agitatesProvokes unrest or motion
- rattlesDisturbs or clatters
shakes · upsets · disconcerts · perturbs · troubles · flusters · throws off balance · alarms
loses
Fails to retain
- confusesCauses mental disarray
- turns aroundReverses one's orientation
- spinsRotates rapidly around center
dizzies · vertigo · labyrinth · maze · unfamiliar · navigation · compass · landmarks · directions · whirls
misdirects
Sends the wrong way
leads astray · confuses · tricks · fools · misinforms · throws off · derails · sidetracks · diverts · loses
disturbs
Causes unease or interruption
- unnervesCauses loss of confidence
- destabilizesUndermines steadiness or equilibrium
- agitatesProvokes unrest or motion
rattles · shakes · upsets · disconcerts · perturbs · troubles · flusters · throws off balance · alarms · disquiets
confuses
Causes mental disarray
- perplexesCauses mental confusion
- bafflesPerplexes or confuses deeply
- puzzlesProblems designed to challenge
mystifies · befuddles · muddles · discombobulates · flummoxes · nonplusses · stupefies · addles · confounds · dumbfounds
disorientsclarifies
Makes more understandable
enlightens · informs · illuminates · explains · elucidates
- spatial disorientationLoss of positional awareness
disoriented, disorient, disorientation, disorienting, disorientate, disorientated, disorientates, disorientating