disordered

/dɪsˈɔːdəd/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪsˈɔːrdərd/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)dis-ˈȯr-dərd (ˌ)diz-/ (ame, mw)

disordered — adjective

  • disorderedpositive
  • more disorderedcomparative
  • most disorderedsuperlative

1. relating to a mental or physical condition that causes the mind or body to stop

1.形容詞B2
釋義

relating to a mental or physical condition that causes the mind or body to stop working in the usual, healthy way — for example, when a person has disordered eating patterns or disordered thinking that makes it impossible to process information clearly.

例句

After months of pressure at school, Mei-Lin developed disordered eating habits.

collocation: disordered eating

The doctors explained that the patient's disordered sleep was a sign of deeper health problems.

collocation: disordered sleep

同義詞
  • disturbed

    stronger, often used for emotional or mental disturbance

  • impaired

    more general, can refer to any reduced function

  • unhealthy

    broader, not specific to medical conditions

反義詞
  • healthy

    opposite of having a medical condition

  • normal

    opposite of a condition that deviates from typical function

文法句型

disordered + noun (eating, thinking, sleep, mood)

用法筆記

Usually appears before a noun that names a specific bodily or mental function (eating, thinking, sleep, mood, attachment). The noun tells the reader which function is affected. This sense is most common in medical and psychological writing.

常見錯誤

❌I feel disordered today.
✅I feel confused today.
💡'disordered' is not used for temporary, everyday confusion; it describes a medical condition or pattern.
❌My desk is disordered.
✅My desk is messy.
💡For physical mess, use 'messy' or 'untidy'; 'disordered' in the medical sense is reserved for body/mind functions.

2. not arranged neatly or in the correct order; in a state of confusion where thing

2.形容詞B1
釋義

not arranged neatly or in the correct order; in a state of confusion where things are not where they should be — like a disordered pile of books or a disordered room after a party.

例句

Clara found her papers in a disordered pile after the children had been playing nearby.

collocation: disordered pile

The kitchen was left in such a disordered state that cleaning took the whole morning.

collocation: disordered state

同義詞
  • messy

    more common and less formal; used in everyday speech

  • untidy

    similar frequency to 'messy', common in British English

  • disorganized

    focuses on lack of system rather than physical mess

  • chaotic

    stronger, suggests complete lack of order

反義詞
  • neat

    opposite of messy in appearance

  • tidy

    opposite of untidy or disordered

  • ordered

    direct opposite, means arranged correctly

文法句型

disordered + noun (room, pile, state)

用法筆記

This sense is more formal than everyday alternatives such as 'messy' or 'untidy'. In speech, 'disordered' sounds literary or slightly old-fashioned when describing physical objects. For everyday mess, prefer 'messy', 'untidy', or 'disorganized'.

常見錯誤

❌I can't find my keys — everything is so disordered!
✅I can't find my keys
💡everything is so messy!' — 'messy' is more natural for everyday situations.
❌The disordered eating on the table.
✅The messy pile of food on the table.
💡'disordered eating' belongs to the medical sense; for physical food mess, use 'messy'.