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 GlasgowSynonyms
Examples 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
No grievance was small enough and no taboo was off the table for David’s character, who seized on the befuddling things that people say and do in social situations—and was just as often guilty of committing his own blunders.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2024
The issue has befuddled lawmakers despite near-universal agreement — in Silicon Valley and in Washington — on the need for federal standards to determine how much information companies can collect from consumers online.
—Cristiano Lima-Strong, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
Sadly, some online were befuddled by Pacino, especially his decision to not list all the nominees.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2024
Strangers are more likely to be flattered than befuddled.
—Angela Haupt, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
In August, a pod of nearly 100 pilot whales stranded themselves on the shore of an Australian beach, befuddling marine biologists and attracting international attentio when wildlife experts made the decision to euthanize them.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024
Avoid unfamiliar places and people, or situations that befuddle and leave you feeling vulnerable.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024
Both men have sometimes misspoken in ways that flummoxed their audiences and prompted explanations by aides afterwards, and Trump already has been hammering Biden as befuddled or worse.
—Susan Page, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024
This befuddling rule change has led to serious disruptions in the world of community oncology, where the vast majority of Americans receive their cancer care.
—Samyukta Mullangi, STAT, 1 Mar. 2024
Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2024
The issue has befuddled lawmakers despite near-universal agreement — in Silicon Valley and in Washington — on the need for federal standards to determine how much information companies can collect from consumers online.
—Cristiano Lima-Strong, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
Sadly, some online were befuddled by Pacino, especially his decision to not list all the nominees.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2024
Strangers are more likely to be flattered than befuddled.
—Angela Haupt, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
In August, a pod of nearly 100 pilot whales stranded themselves on the shore of an Australian beach, befuddling marine biologists and attracting international attentio when wildlife experts made the decision to euthanize them.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024
Avoid unfamiliar places and people, or situations that befuddle and leave you feeling vulnerable.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024
Both men have sometimes misspoken in ways that flummoxed their audiences and prompted explanations by aides afterwards, and Trump already has been hammering Biden as befuddled or worse.
—Susan Page, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024
This befuddling rule change has led to serious disruptions in the world of community oncology, where the vast majority of Americans receive their cancer care.
—Samyukta Mullangi, STAT, 1 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'befuddle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near befuddle
Cite this Entry
“Befuddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/befuddle. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
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