discombobulate

[ dis-kuh m-bob-yuh-leyt ]
/ ˌdɪs kəmˈbɒb yəˌleɪt /

verb (used with object), dis·com·bob·u·lat·ed, dis·com·bob·u·lat·ing.

to confuse or disconcert; upset; frustrate: The speaker was completely discombobulated by the hecklers.

Origin of discombobulate

1825–35, Americanism; fanciful alteration of discompose or discomfort

OTHER WORDS FROM discombobulate

dis·com·bob·u·la·tion, noun

Example sentences from the Web for discombobulate

  • A personal assault by you on me will wake these people up and discombobulate Goldsmith.

    A House-Boat on the Styx |John Kendrick Bangs

British Dictionary definitions for discombobulate

discombobulate
/ (ˌdɪskəmˈbɒbjʊˌleɪt) /

verb

(tr) informal, mainly US and Canadian to throw into confusion

Word Origin for discombobulate

C20: probably a whimsical alteration of discompose or discomfit