bländad

Bländad is a Swedish adjective meaning blinded or dazzled by light, and more broadly by something impressive or distracting. In optical terms it describes temporary impairment of vision caused by bright illumination, such as sunlight, oncoming headlights, or a welding arc; in everyday speech it is used to express being overwhelmed or impressed to the point of distraction. The word derives from the verb blända, to dazzle or blind, and its participle form is bländad. The related noun bländning denotes glare or glare-inducing light.

Common usage includes both literal and figurative senses. For example, solens starka strålar can blända a person, or someone can be bländad av en fasad or a car’s high beams. Figuratively, a person can be described as bländad by wealth, fame, or beauty, indicating that they are momentarily overwhelmed or misled by splendor. The term is widespread in Swedish journalism, contemporary prose, and everyday conversation, and is closely connected to related forms such as bländande (dazzling) and the verb blända. See also bländning, the noun for glare.