bamboozle

verb

bam-ˈbü-zəl How to pronounce bamboozle (audio)
Definition of bamboozlenext
1
as in to deceive
to cause to believe what is untrue bamboozled by con men into buying worthless land in the desert

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to confuse
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty I'm completely bamboozled by the latest changes in the tax code

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bamboozle Authentic leaders don’t bamboozle or swindle their teams with stories that aren't true. — Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 7 June 2026 Their cyber hacking uncovers more than just corrupt money and that propels them into bamboozling Heard’s model daughter (Jessica Reynolds, a standout in an impressive young cast). — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 13 May 2026 Frank concluded that many Kansans had been bamboozled by populist anti-elitism. — U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026 And the performer isn’t a comedian, but Oz Pearlman, a mentalist who has made his fame bamboozling everyone from billionaires like Mark Cuban to podcasters like Joe Rogan with intricate mind games that defy explanation. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 16 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bamboozle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bamboozle
  1. deceive
  2. confuse
  3. trick
  4. baffle
  5. fool
  6. bewilder
  7. perplex
  8. puzzle
Verb
  • Now some say the operation has left them feeling deceived and questioning whether the White House considered their safety.
    — Scott Nover, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The two proceed to deceive each other, insult each other’s appearances, and abandon each other in precarious situations.
    — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of deceive
Verb
  • This reserve should not be confused with a permanent investment strategy.
    — Steve Booren, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The light entering my eyes would bend at two different angles, confusing my brain and making my vision a little blurry.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of confuse
Verb
  • Mistruths, false claims, scams, and other deceptive efforts are tricking people into thinking that a watermark removal app will do wonders, whereas the reality is that the results are at best half-mixed or aimed to cause damage.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • ClickFix works by tricking you into performing an action on your computer that stealthily downloads and installs malware.
    — Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of trick
Verb
  • The scene never fails to baffle the senses as the path rises up about a thousand feet from the valley floor.
    — Kalpana Mohan, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • She is baffled by the way her friends Moe and Fumina rail against their parents, especially when Yuko is always holding back at home, forever walking on eggshells.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of baffle
Verb
  • Because being fooled once is a shame; being fooled twice — that’s moronic.
    — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Why fake rental listings fool smart people Rental scammers understand timing.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of fool
Verb
  • That’s a common sentiment from a touring superstar, but there’s a sense that Kahan really might be as happily bewildered as the rest of us about how songs this personal and cloudy came to captivate even sunny California.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The threats are constantly evolving, layering upon themselves with bewildering speed.
    — Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of bewilder
Verb
  • Gibson Nash, 21, was charged with first-degree murder after a series of perplexing events eventually led police to his mother’s bloodied body.
    — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The Brazil midfielder has expressed a desire to join Arsenal, but Newcastle did not want to sell him this summer and have been perplexed by the lack of direct contact from the London club.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of perplex
Verb
  • In practice, puzzling choices by curators Klaus Biesenbach and Maike Steinkamp rendered the experiment fraught in places.
    — Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Three bears were taken, and, in keeping with the southern tradition of bear hunting, Roosevelt’s hosts were a bit puzzled by the president’s disappointment.
    — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of puzzle

Browse Nearby Words

bambinos
bamboozle
bamboozled
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Cite this Entry

“Bamboozle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bamboozle. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of bamboozle for Spanish Speakers

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