as in to bewilder
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
most of the applicants were befuddled by the wording of one of the questions on the driving test
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Recent Examples of befuddle
Schumer and the others who voted yes fear that TikTok will go dark tomorrow and 170 million befuddled and enraged American users will blame them.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2025
The Mars methane mystery has befuddled scientists for years.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 1 Jan. 2025
Whether that sudden shift befuddled his opponent is unclear, but just 40 seconds later Shang Zhifa was sprawled on the canvas, felled by a vicious right hand.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 9 Jan. 2025
Once Thomas travels to Orlok’s castle, he is befuddled by the vampire’s mind-control powers, and signs a mysterious contract written in occult letters, unwittingly signing his wife away to Orlok.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for befuddle
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2025
The Mars methane mystery has befuddled scientists for years.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 1 Jan. 2025
Whether that sudden shift befuddled his opponent is unclear, but just 40 seconds later Shang Zhifa was sprawled on the canvas, felled by a vicious right hand.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 9 Jan. 2025
Once Thomas travels to Orlok’s castle, he is befuddled by the vampire’s mind-control powers, and signs a mysterious contract written in occult letters, unwittingly signing his wife away to Orlok.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for befuddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befuddle
Verb
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That’s all bewildering plot-wise, but Morrison also bewilders readers through language.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2025
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Meanwhile, Ukrainians are bewildered, wondering how the U.S. went so quickly from isolating the Kremlin to appearing to embrace it.—
Eleanor Beardsley,
NPR,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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On the flip side, some have found peoples' infatuation with the ferocious-looking predator perplexing.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA TODAY,
20 Feb. 2025
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Many fans of the show are perplexed by this particular star with his cutthroat singing chops.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Boat-Friendly Boca Grande To live in Boca Grande (not to be confused with Boca Raton, the resort on Florida’s east coast) is to be on the water.—
Mary Forgione,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
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When some confused the artist organization’s acronym, RCAF, with the Royal Canadian Air Force, the name was humorously changed to the Royal Chicano Air Force.—
Joe Rubin,
Sacramento Bee,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The dead man left a nickel, three pennies and a mystery that baffles Miami Beach police.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
17 Mar. 2025
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Buried 500-Year-Old Gold Coins Hidden by Monk 'in Danger' Discovered By Rachael O'Connor Life and Trends Reporter Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member news article 0 A father was baffled when his son arrived home with a silver dollar coin, and took to the internet for help.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
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At 28 years and nine months old, the former New York Yankees outfielder who struck out to end the 2024 World Series is the youngest free agent still without a team — a puzzling fall from grace for a six-year veteran who is 2019 was the Los Angeles Dodgers No. 1 prospect.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
8 Mar. 2025
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Another puzzling decision was the flag to remove a photo of Army Corps biologists recording information about fish.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Befuddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befuddle. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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