bamboozle

verb

bam·​boo·​zle bam-ˈbü-zəl 

bamboozled; bamboozling

bam-ˈbüz-liŋ,

-ˈbü-zə- 

transitive verb

1

: to deceive by underhanded methods : dupe, hoodwink

I got bamboozled by the salesperson to buy a more expensive model.

2

: to confuse, frustrate, or throw off thoroughly or completely

a quarterback bamboozled by an unexpected defense

bamboozlement

bam-ˈbü-zəl-mənt 

noun

Did you know?

In 1710, Irish author Jonathan Swift wrote an article on "the continual Corruption of our English Tongue" in which he complained of "the Choice of certain Words invented by some pretty Fellows." Among the inventions Swift disliked was bamboozle, which was used by contemporary criminals. Other than that, the origin of bamboozle remains a mystery, but the word has clearly defied Swift's assertion that "All new affected Modes of Speech ... are the first perishing Parts in any Language."

Synonyms

• beguile
• bluff
• buffalo
• burn
• catch
• con
• cozen
• deceive
• delude
• dupe
• fake out
• fool
• gaff
• gammon
• gull
• have
• have on [chiefly British]
• hoax
• hoodwink
• hornswoggle
• humbug
• juggle
• misguide
• misinform
• mislead
• snooker
• snow
• spoof
• string along
• suck in
• sucker
• take in
• trick

Examples of bamboozle in a Sentence

bamboozled by con men into buying worthless land in the desert

I'm completely bamboozled by the latest changes in the tax code

Recent Examples on the Web

Jadon Sancho’s sumptuous dummy, bamboozling Chris Richards, and cross had set up Cole Palmer for the opener early on and Chelsea should really have extended their lead by the break. —Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025

Cocker’s lessons covered addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, as well as calculation with pre-decimal British currency and a gentle introduction to 17th-century England’s bamboozling array of weights and measures. —James Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Dec. 2024

At trial, Laffitte did not dispute the facts, but claimed he’d been bamboozled by Murdaugh as part of his sprawling scheme. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 14 Nov. 2024

But a couple of feints and some decent movement from Soucek bamboozled Kelly, who lost his man, allowing the Czech Republic international to direct a free header into the right-hand corner of the net from an Emerson Palmieri corner. —Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bamboozle

verb

bam·​boo·​zle

bam-ˈbü-zəl

bamboozled; bamboozling

1

: to deceive by trickery : hoodwink

2

: to confuse, frustrate, or throw off completely