befuddled 1 of 2

adjective

bi-ˈfə-dᵊld How to pronounce befuddled (audio)
Definition of befuddlednext
as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion the perennially befuddled professor was always forgetting where she'd left her glasses

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

befuddled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of befuddle
as in baffled
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

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 befuddled
Adjective
The befuddled host is left to shake his head as the trio wander off. — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026 The Tea Party sprang out of the grass roots and roared at befuddled Congressional representatives in town halls across the country. — Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
And, of course, onstage in his act, in which the 47-year-old comedian from Old Hickory, Tennessee, adopts the persona of a middle-aged everyschlub befuddled by modern life and expectations of basic competence. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026 Expecting to catch their limit this week, the Dodgers were instead befuddled by the Miami Marlins, who had most of the answers from the mound and just enough from the plate. — Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for befuddled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befuddled
  1. bewildered
  2. baffled
  3. dazed
  4. puzzled
  5. confused
  6. perplexed
  7. stunned
  8. distracted
Adjective
  • One bewildered South African man said protesters had burst into his home and stolen the lunch from his plate.
    — Julie Bourdin, Christian Science Monitor, 28 July 2026
  • In a little corner of my mind, however, history will always mean the tragic smashing of individual lives by its cruel hands and the scattering of bewildered people reeling from its blows.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 July 2026
Definition of bewildered
Verb
  • 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
  • Al Roker was baffled to come face to face with his doppelgänger on the Today show plaza.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of baffled
Adjective
  • Daemon struggles to his feet, dazed, and begins cleaving his way through the smouldering city.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Grutman approaches Hart’s character, who is on the ground dazed and disheveled from a wild night out.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026
Definition of dazed
Verb
  • The fire chief, Gene Perreault, who was there during the walk-through, tells me the piles puzzled investigators.
    — Zander Sherman, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Tempo coach Sandy Brondello seemed puzzled by the absence of violet.
    — Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of puzzled
Adjective
  • Kat is confused and correct that giving her no explanation was an awful way of going about it.
    — Emma Soren, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Needless to say, that left everyone in Toronto a little confused.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of confused
Verb
  • 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
  • Workers at Doherty Staffing Solutions were perplexed when strangers started calling the office in response to recruitment texts — texts the firm never sent.
    — Bill Lukitsch, Boston Herald, 13 July 2026
Definition of perplexed
Adjective
  • Motorcycle gunmen opened fire on Gastélum as stunned viewers watched online.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Rushdie, who was about to speak on writers’ safety, was slashed 15 times in front of a stunned audience.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
Definition of stunned
Adjective
  • True influence stems from being fully attentive to others, a rare and powerful quality in today's distracted world.
    — Alfonso Cahero, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • CyberGuy recently took a closer look at whether autonomous trucks can make highways safer, including Kodiak's arguments about fatigue, distracted driving and real-world testing.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of distracted

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befuddle
befuddled
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Cite this Entry

“Befuddled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befuddled. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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