as in perplexed
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do
baffled viewers didn't know what to make of the strange antics of the talk show host
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in frustrated
to prevent from achieving a goal
the language barrier baffled everyone and discouraged us from attempting another teleconference
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in puzzled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
she was baffled by the wording of the clause in the insurance policy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of baffled
Beren Cross, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
And my parents are even baffled.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
Naturally, Owens made an appointment with her dentist, who was just as baffled.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Aug. 2025
Scientific experts who constantly monitor the Earth's rotation seem a bit baffled and amused that a few slightly more-speedy-than-normal spins this summer have captured the public's imagination.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 22 July 2025
But its favorite mood, by far, is one of mild titillation, which arises whenever something slightly out of the ordinary occurs—a ball flies into the crowd, a baffled bird pecks at the service line, a champagne cork enters the field of play—and a burr of chatter rips round the court.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 12 July 2025
What baffled doctors, however, was that the bone was not lodged in her throat but buried in the muscle tissue of her neck.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 3 July 2025
Fans, of course, remain baffled and angry and depressed over the lack of any visible progress on Martin’s sixth A Song Of Ice And Fire novel, The Winds Of Winter.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
The Tensor series uses a double layer of reflective film insulation, with a baffled air chamber design, which helps keep it quiet.
—Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 22 May 2025
Richard Hall, Time, 13 Sep. 2025
The result is a set of policies that has baffled some China experts, or at least raised questions about the president’s stance on America’s friendly rival.
—Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
The mystery of how a marine animal would have evolved to grow such structures on its forehead baffled the global scientific community for years.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
Though relieved to see the show continue on, Mowry-Housley said she and twin sister Tia were baffled by the change.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
Willis, a seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker who starred for the San Francisco 49ers, was baffled by Jerry Jones sending Parsons to Green Bay.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Many commenters were baffled no one wanted to match with McBride.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
Those are the same factors that left observers baffled by how the fire was handled a month earlier.
—Stephanie Murray, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Appearing on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, Columbus said he was somewhat baffled by the HBO TV series remake, which is currently shooting in the UK.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The clear stance that the club has spent every available penny of their PSR allowance left many baffled, but the club’s accounts over the coming years will reveal all.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
And my parents are even baffled.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
Naturally, Owens made an appointment with her dentist, who was just as baffled.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Aug. 2025
Scientific experts who constantly monitor the Earth's rotation seem a bit baffled and amused that a few slightly more-speedy-than-normal spins this summer have captured the public's imagination.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 22 July 2025
But its favorite mood, by far, is one of mild titillation, which arises whenever something slightly out of the ordinary occurs—a ball flies into the crowd, a baffled bird pecks at the service line, a champagne cork enters the field of play—and a burr of chatter rips round the court.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 12 July 2025
What baffled doctors, however, was that the bone was not lodged in her throat but buried in the muscle tissue of her neck.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 3 July 2025
Fans, of course, remain baffled and angry and depressed over the lack of any visible progress on Martin’s sixth A Song Of Ice And Fire novel, The Winds Of Winter.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
The Tensor series uses a double layer of reflective film insulation, with a baffled air chamber design, which helps keep it quiet.
—Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 22 May 2025
Verb
Advertisement Advertisement But days after the shooting, authorities have yet to discover a coherent motive for the killing of Kirk—the founder of Turning Point USA and a popular figure on the American right—and experts on extremism are similarly baffled by the possible motivations.
—Richard Hall, Time, 13 Sep. 2025
The result is a set of policies that has baffled some China experts, or at least raised questions about the president’s stance on America’s friendly rival.
—Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
The mystery of how a marine animal would have evolved to grow such structures on its forehead baffled the global scientific community for years.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
Though relieved to see the show continue on, Mowry-Housley said she and twin sister Tia were baffled by the change.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
Willis, a seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker who starred for the San Francisco 49ers, was baffled by Jerry Jones sending Parsons to Green Bay.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Many commenters were baffled no one wanted to match with McBride.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
Those are the same factors that left observers baffled by how the fire was handled a month earlier.
—Stephanie Murray, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Appearing on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, Columbus said he was somewhat baffled by the HBO TV series remake, which is currently shooting in the UK.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baffled
Adjective
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Another surprise that has long perplexed researchers is those algorithms’ knack for their own, strange kind of creativity.—
Webb Wright,
Wired News,
24 Aug. 2025
-
The exhibition matchup is already creating controversy and has some perplexed, given both fighters were headed down very different paths.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Economic insecurity and political corruption have for years left many of Nepal’s youth frustrated, setting the stage for today’s protest movement.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
-
As a baby boomer and an amateur genealogist, I am continually frustrated by the lack of interest my grandchildren’s generation seems to have in learning about their family history — particularly mine.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
From Scepticism to Confidence In my discussions, executives often admit being puzzled about how to approach AI.—
London School of Economics,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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The move has puzzled many since ending the program would bar every company, including oil firms, from accessing federal subsidies for capturing carbon or producing hydrogen fuel.—
Natasha Bracken,
semafor.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Everybody seems bewildered by this news, his own wife most of all.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Layered in cream, bruised, bewildered, bald.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The investigation has been hampered by peculiar challenges, though, perhaps none greater than the fact that the entire city in which the crime occurred has vanished.—
Denver Nicks,
Rolling Stone,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Dry conditions have hampered quail reproduction across parts of Arizona, leading to concerns about future populations.—
Brandon Loomis,
AZCentral.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At one point, O’Steen was confused by a question, and the resulting back-and-forth was reminiscent of an Abbott and Costello repartee.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Sep. 2025
-
It should not be confused with Article 5, the cornerstone of the alliance, which states an armed attack on one NATO ally will be considered an act of violence against all members and prompt assistance to the member concerned.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Baffled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baffled. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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