baffle 1 of 2

Definition of bafflenext

baffle

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb baffle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of baffle are balk, foil, frustrate, and thwart. While all these words mean "to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal," baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling.

baffled by the maze of rules and regulations

When would balk be a good substitute for baffle?

While in some cases nearly identical to baffle, balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances.

officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime

When can foil be used instead of baffle?

Although the words foil and baffle have much in common, foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort.

foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her

Where would frustrate be a reasonable alternative to baffle?

The synonyms frustrate and baffle are sometimes interchangeable, but frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent.

frustrated attempts at government reform

When is thwart a more appropriate choice than baffle?

The words thwart and baffle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing.

the army thwarted his attempt at a coup

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 baffle
Verb
Social media is thick with ex-players baffled that their years in uniform count for so little with modern decision-makers. Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 11 June 2026 Jackson’s reasoning and intentions continued to baffle me over the course of our discussion. Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
Noun
But the circumstances that put a two-year-old manatee underground in a baffle box demand attention beyond the rescue itself. Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026 However, one intrepid squirrel figured out how to climb up the pole about a foot beneath the baffle, then jump out away from the pole in mid-air, toward the edge of the baffle. Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for baffle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baffle
Verb
  • Trump’s rogue moves have frustrated Thune’s party regularly over the past two months.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 24 June 2026
  • David Rubenstein, the son of a Baltimore postal worker, was frustrated in a Washington law firm when he was both inspired by a wildly successful leveraged buyout and unnerved by a book that claimed the odds of successfully starting a company plummets after 37.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Sometimes those editing swings make sense, like incorporating more social-media posts and group chats, but other times the stylistic choices simply perplex.
    Tom Smyth, Vulture, 25 June 2026
  • Many are perplexed by the decision to partner with Target given the boycott taking place due to the company’s rollback of DEI initiatives.
    Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • The visible gap for the door mechanism running across the rear fenders is unfortunate, especially since more basic minivans showcase clean surfaces there.
    Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 19 June 2026
  • Each year the fins grew larger, until the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado arrived with rear appendages soaring almost three feet above the rear fenders.
    Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • For three years straight, he’s kept up a pace that bewilders the industry’s leading comics.
    Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 17 June 2026
  • The narrator and his wife find that their attachment to the charismatic and cryptic Chibi grows with the cat’s increasing visits, in a way that bewilders them but somehow bonds them closer together.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
Noun
  • That provided a significant cushion for prices.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 25 June 2026
  • But despite a somewhat cold final 10 minutes, the Valkyries’ cushion was just too big for the Dream to overcome.
    Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • So The Listeners — not to be confused with 2022’s The Listener starring Tessa Thompson and you in a voice role — is just now reaching the States.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2026
  • Why The Market Misprices Good Companies Investors often confuse business quality with investment quality.
    Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • Chip workers at both SK Hynix and Samsung are expecting hefty bonuses this year, thanks to bumper profits at both chipmakers.
    Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 23 June 2026
  • His quick snap shot from the bumper became a specialty and made the B’s power play a monster, especially when Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak were on his flanks.
    Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • But as other mathematicians would explore, there are irrational numbers with Lagrange values larger than 3, which puzzle researchers to this day.
    Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 19 June 2026
  • This is, famously, one of the trickier accessories to puzzle into your luggage.
    Rosie Jarman, Vogue, 18 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Baffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baffle. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

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