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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Emotional rollercoasters for baffled European allies.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
The world welterweight champion from San Antonio is as baffled as anyone.
—John Whisler, San Antonio Express-News, 20 Feb. 2026
During the latest hearing in the case, Young repeatedly seemed baffled that the country’s top leaders would attempt to implement such a policy.
—Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Many are somewhat baffled or turned off by the ale.
—Gary Stoller, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Why cells grow to just the right size has long baffled scientists.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Dec. 2025
Looking aghast, Kylie couldn’t help but go silent with a baffled expression for several seconds.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 30 Oct. 2025
Thousands of commenters responded with laughter, surprise, and sympathy for the dog’s baffled expression.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
One administrator told me that he was baffled, but that the embassy staff seemed confident that something would come of it.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Kokuho was her very first film, and the prospect of attending the Academy Awards astonished and baffled her.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026
Daniels’ answer baffled the host and audience.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
Kachel said Vank’s signature moment so far with the Plainsmen came in the regular season finale last season, when Vank baffled Western Nebraska Community College with eight innings of shutout ball, scattering three hits while racking up 10 strikeouts.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2026
Despite reading Whitney’s letter at least twice, Henry — a narcissist — seems baffled that Whitney is not more contrite.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
Yet Howe, his coaches and recruitment staff were baffled by such early criticism.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Even Proctor’s defense attorney seemed baffled by the district attorney’s office’s handling of the case.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
But some children—Hazel, Evan, and, of course, Jude—baffled Lilian.
—Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Emotional rollercoasters for baffled European allies.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
The world welterweight champion from San Antonio is as baffled as anyone.
—John Whisler, San Antonio Express-News, 20 Feb. 2026
During the latest hearing in the case, Young repeatedly seemed baffled that the country’s top leaders would attempt to implement such a policy.
—Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Many are somewhat baffled or turned off by the ale.
—Gary Stoller, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Why cells grow to just the right size has long baffled scientists.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Dec. 2025
Looking aghast, Kylie couldn’t help but go silent with a baffled expression for several seconds.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 30 Oct. 2025
Thousands of commenters responded with laughter, surprise, and sympathy for the dog’s baffled expression.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
The decision has baffled Apatow’s team and inner circle.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
One administrator told me that he was baffled, but that the embassy staff seemed confident that something would come of it.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Kokuho was her very first film, and the prospect of attending the Academy Awards astonished and baffled her.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026
Daniels’ answer baffled the host and audience.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
Kachel said Vank’s signature moment so far with the Plainsmen came in the regular season finale last season, when Vank baffled Western Nebraska Community College with eight innings of shutout ball, scattering three hits while racking up 10 strikeouts.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2026
Despite reading Whitney’s letter at least twice, Henry — a narcissist — seems baffled that Whitney is not more contrite.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
Yet Howe, his coaches and recruitment staff were baffled by such early criticism.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Even Proctor’s defense attorney seemed baffled by the district attorney’s office’s handling of the case.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baffled
Adjective
-
As the recruits push through the toughest weeks of training, the narrative occasionally cuts to TV news reports of an asteroid entering Earth's atmosphere, leaving NASA utterly perplexed.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Reporters at the press conference, perplexed, asked Trump about the gap.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
DeJanovich, who is the a AFGE Local 1260 Chief Administrative Point of contact in Nevada, said she is frustrated with Congress for not moving forward and ending the quagmire over funding.—
Sabina Ghebremedhin,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
If he ever gets stressed or frustrated in dealing with all this nonsense, that footage is never shown.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the 2000 play, now in a Shotgun Players production directed by Kevin Clarke, Martin is puzzled by himself.—
Theater Critic,
San Francisco Chronicle,
15 Mar. 2026
-
At first, McCutchen was puzzled.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Desmond is wonderful in the part, finding sympathy and just the right amount of bewildered charisma without tipping into caddishness.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Be careful about coming on so strong that others are bewildered or defensive.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Crew searched by air and by water for people who had been stranded — efforts that were hampered by people flying personal drones to get images of the flooding, said Ian Scheuring, a spokesperson for Honolulu.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Ruggieri notes that exports are being hampered by financing issues, high logistics costs and a lack of competitiveness resulting from external tariffs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After the crash, passengers were confused and screaming in panic, Liquori said.—
Elizabeth Chuck,
NBC news,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The verified account, @realanndowd (not to be confused with Bald Ann Dowd), made its first post on March 18 — finally ending the torturous 5,642-day dry spell of there being no Ann Dowd on the app.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
An embarrassed Bush was forced to cough up a $130 fine for killing the wrong bird.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The Epstein files have implicated or embarrassed countless people on lists of the world's richest, including Microsoft CEO Bill Gates and New York Giants chairman Steve Tisch.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Baffled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baffled. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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