disordered

adjective

dis·​or·​dered (ˌ)dis-ˈȯr-dərd How to pronounce disordered (audio)
(ˌ)diz-
1
obsolete
a
: morally reprehensible
b
: unruly
2
a
: marked by disorder
a disordered room
b
: not functioning in a normal orderly healthy way
a disordered mind
disorderedly adverb
disorderedness noun

Examples of disordered in a Sentence

The project was in a disordered state. The file was completely disordered.
Recent Examples on the Web Rather than having a set structure, intrinsically disordered proteins seem to have entire sections that can flap around in the breeze of Brownian motion and, yet, were critical to the protein's structure. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 19 Sep. 2023 The researchers then made mutations in one of the intrinsically disordered regions and determined the rate of the chemical reaction. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 19 Sep. 2023 The concept of entropy describes a system’s tendency to move from order toward disorder, because there are so many more ways for a disordered state to exist than an ordered state. Popular Mechanics, 31 July 2023 The inclusion of milder or very early cases of psychiatric disorders may lead to an increase in the number of non-disordered (false-positive) patients in clinical trials, and to an increase in the placebo effect, as less severe cases are more likely to respond to placebo. Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 3 Aug. 2012 Eating disorders are not unique to Black women, but the causes, disordered behaviors and neglect surrounding treatment are. Shanetta McDonald, refinery29.com, 27 Feb. 2023 Researchers reviewed and analyzed 32 studies from 16 countries and found that 22% of children and adolescents showed disordered eating behaviors. Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 20 Feb. 2023 These dialogues were a method for crafting the disordered and distressing fading of memory into a structured and healthy forgetting. Piers Vitebsky, Scientific American, 12 Dec. 2022 The disordered purpose of work has far-reaching consequences. Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disordered.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1505, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of disordered was in 1505

Dictionary Entries Near disordered

Cite this Entry

“Disordered.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disordered. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

disordered

adjective
dis·​or·​dered
1
: marked by disorder
2
: not functioning in a normal orderly healthy way

Medical Definition

disordered

adjective
dis·​or·​dered
1
: not functioning in a normal orderly healthy way
disordered bodily functions
2
: mentally unbalanced
a disordered patient
a disordered mind

More from Merriam-Webster on disordered

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