DISORDERED

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does disordered mean? 

• DISORDERED (adjective)
  The adjective DISORDERED has 3 senses:

1. thrown into a state of disarray or confusion

2. lacking orderly continuity

3. not arranged in order

  Familiarity information: DISORDERED used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DISORDERED (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Thrown into a state of disarray or confusion

Synonyms:

broken; confused; disordered; upset

Context example:

with everything so upset

Similar:

disorganised; disorganized (lacking order or methodical arrangement or function)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lacking orderly continuity

Synonyms:

confused; disconnected; disjointed; disordered; garbled; illogical; scattered; unconnected

Context example:

scattered thoughts

Similar:

incoherent (without logical or meaningful connection)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Not arranged in order

Synonyms:

disordered; unordered

Antonym:

ordered (having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule)

 Context examples 

Researchers previously believed that proteins needed a fixed shape to function, but over the last two decades there has been a growing interest in intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs).

(Biomaterial Artificial Protein Helps Heal Tissue, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Most unusual, he thought, a vision or a mirage—more likely a vision, a trick of his disordered mind.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

This was possible from the disordered state of things in the household.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“Studying the genetic basis of this trait can help explain why some people are more susceptible to sleep disordered breathing and its related morbidities.”

(Researchers identify genetic variations linked to oxygen drops during sleep, National Institutes of Health)

The disordered carbohydrate metabolism that underlies diabetes manifests as hyperglycemia.

(Plasma Glucose Measurement, NCI Thesaurus)

Many of these disordered materials, metallic glass, for example, are exceptionally strong, stronger than other metals, which offers potential for many industrial uses.

(Materials, like metallic glass, can help us understand how cells break, NSF)

The internal structure of organic semiconductors tends to be highly disordered, like a plate of spaghetti.

(Certain organic semiconducting materials can transport spin faster than they conduct charge, University of Cambridge)

The eyes were wide open, and her brown hair fell in two rich clusters on her shoulders, and on her white dress, disordered by the want of the lost ribbon.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

She should always send for Perry, if the child appeared in the slightest degree disordered, were it only for a moment.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

A little disordered always the first twenty-four hours of going to sea, but never knew what sickness was afterwards.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)