bemuse

be·muse

transitive verb \bi-ˈmyüz, bē-\

Definition of BEMUSE

1

: to make confused : puzzle, bewilder

2

: to occupy the attention of : distract, absorb

3

: to cause to have feelings of wry or tolerant amusement <seems truly bemused that people beyond his circle in Seattle would be interested in his ruminations — Ruth B. Smith>

— be·mus·ed·ly \-ˈmyü-zəd-lē\ adverb

— be·muse·ment \-ˈmyüz-mənt\ noun

Examples of BEMUSE

1. <a public that seemed more bemused by the shenanigans of celebrities than by a war being waged half a world away>
2. <the stage mishap momentarily bemused the actress>

First Known Use of BEMUSE

1735

Related to BEMUSE

Synonyms

absorb, engage, busy, catch up, engross, enthrall (or enthral), enwrap, fascinate, grip, immerse, interest, intrigue, involve, occupy

Related Words

allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, obsess; hypnotize, mesmerize; distract, preoccupy; hog, monopolize

Near Antonyms

bore, jade, pall, tire, weary

Rhymes with BEMUSE

abuse, accuse, amuse, Andrews, bad news, berceuse, chanteuse, charmeuse, chartreuse, coiffeuse, confuse, contuse, danseuse, defuse, diffuse, diseuse, disuse, effuse, enthuse, excuse, ill-use, incuse, infuse, masseuse, misuse, perfuse, peruse, recluse, recuse, refuse, reuse, short fuse, suffuse, Toulouse, transfuse, vendeuse