befuddle
verb
be·fud·dle
bi-ˈfə-dᵊl 
bē-
befuddled; befuddling; befuddles
1
: to muddle or stupefy with or as if with drink
… befuddled with drink all the time.—
Ellen Glasgow
Ellen GlasgowExamples of befuddle in a Sentence
most of the applicants were befuddled by the wording of one of the questions on the driving test
Recent Examples on the Web
The Trump administration appears to be leaving no stone unturned with its sweeping tariffs around the globe, from rocky outcrops home to polar bears in the Arctic to tiny tropical islands to a former British penal colony whose leader is befuddled that it was targeted.
—Rod McGuirk and Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2025
But a slew of other quirks and glitches made Monday’s Athletics home opener in West Sacramento befuddling, before and after first pitch.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2025
The Gators are nearly 30-point favorites against Norfolk State, which left the Spartans' head coach befuddled.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 20 Mar. 2025
The sketch comes as the sitting president continues to befuddle many Americans with his focus on tariffs and his platforming of Musk’s push to cut federal workers while stock prices continue to plunge.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for befuddle
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Rod McGuirk and Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2025
But a slew of other quirks and glitches made Monday’s Athletics home opener in West Sacramento befuddling, before and after first pitch.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2025
The Gators are nearly 30-point favorites against Norfolk State, which left the Spartans' head coach befuddled.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 20 Mar. 2025
The sketch comes as the sitting president continues to befuddle many Americans with his focus on tariffs and his platforming of Musk’s push to cut federal workers while stock prices continue to plunge.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for befuddle
Cite this Entry
“Befuddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/befuddle. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
befuddle
verb
be·fud·dle
bi-ˈfəd-ᵊl
befuddled; befuddling
-ˈfəd-liŋ,
-ᵊl-iŋ
1
: to dull the senses of with or as if with too much drink : stupefy
2
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share