Skip to content
Vinony

discombobulate

verb

  1. to throw into state of confusion; to befuddle
L744 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˌdɪs.kəmˈbɒb.jəˌleɪt/

verb

Etymology: 1834 US, fanciful variant of discompose, discomfit, etc., originally discombobricate. The -bob- interfix may come from bobbery, meaning “commotion, noise”.

  1. To throw into a state of confusion; to befuddle or perplex.

    “Can't you and I pretend to quarrel? A personal assault by you on me will wake these people up and discombobulate Goldsmith. Say the word—only don't hit too hard.”

    “The notes zigzag in his pieces and discombobulate the ear, just as in 12-tone works.”