bewilderment

noun

be·​wil·​der·​ment bi-ˈwil-dər-mənt 

bē-

1

: the quality or state of being lost, perplexed, or confused : the quality or state of being bewildered

She stared at them in bewilderment.

2

: a complicated or confusing state or condition : a bewildering tangle or confusion

a bewilderment of streets

Synonyms of bewilderment

• confusion
• fog

Examples of bewilderment in a Sentence

the slightest change in her daily routine leaves her in complete bewilderment

Recent Examples on the Web

With that in mind, the NFC’s outsized representation in the TV Guide listings should hardly be cause for bewilderment. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2026

To that end, the film gets a lot of mileage out of Austin Abrams’s performance — the nerves, the bewilderment, the scrounging, the swearing. — Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026

And bear in mind that the Eighth Circuit was likewise unimpressed by Judge Brooks' professed bewilderment at the statute's requirements. — Robert Steinbuch, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026

After an exceptionally long pause, during which Affleck looked around the room in bewilderment, a drum roll signaled their victory. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1793, in the meaning defined at sense 1