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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of baffled
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
Continue reading … YOUTH CHAOS – Sports reporter ambushed on air as bizarre teen trend leaves adults baffled.
—FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Despite Banks’ enthusiasm, commenters were left baffled.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
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
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
Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
Physicists were baffled as to why this material would suddenly stop conducting current once the tellurium content reached approximately 30 percent—a change that its basic chemical composition could not explain.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2025
Until finally, he is baffled by the very mystery of life, love, and death.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
He was baffled as if there does not appear to be any point of access for an animal the size of a ground hog.
—Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Oct. 2025
She was baffled by his sudden enterprise.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Earlier this year a dog in Boise, Idaho, baffled the internet by suddenly walking again after paralysis.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
And suddenly, Glenn and the Jets headed to halftime without running a play in the nearly 40 seconds at their disposal, a move that baffled both their loyalists in New Jersey and the Broncos’ sideline across the pond.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
What started as a tense visit quickly escalated into a situation that left the whole family baffled and frustrated.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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
Continue reading … YOUTH CHAOS – Sports reporter ambushed on air as bizarre teen trend leaves adults baffled.
—FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Despite Banks’ enthusiasm, commenters were left baffled.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
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
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
Verb
Played for comic relief, he is baffled by this son of his who attends college and, more perplexing yet, is suddenly obsessed with Italy and cycling.
—Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
Physicists were baffled as to why this material would suddenly stop conducting current once the tellurium content reached approximately 30 percent—a change that its basic chemical composition could not explain.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2025
Until finally, he is baffled by the very mystery of life, love, and death.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
He was baffled as if there does not appear to be any point of access for an animal the size of a ground hog.
—Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Oct. 2025
She was baffled by his sudden enterprise.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Earlier this year a dog in Boise, Idaho, baffled the internet by suddenly walking again after paralysis.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
And suddenly, Glenn and the Jets headed to halftime without running a play in the nearly 40 seconds at their disposal, a move that baffled both their loyalists in New Jersey and the Broncos’ sideline across the pond.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
What started as a tense visit quickly escalated into a situation that left the whole family baffled and frustrated.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baffled
Adjective
-
Executives will hope that their courtship with Sky can turn into an enduring union, even if the takeover bid has left some perplexed.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Even the photographer seemed perplexed by some of these costumes.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Beyond cost, wealthy investors are also frustrated with service.—
Robert Frank,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Brandes, frustrated by the lack of answers on testing in prisons, chimed in Thursday during a Florida Health Care Association conference call about the nursing home issue.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The conservative backlash isn’t surprising, but we were still left genuinely puzzled by the unshakable belief that a lesbian nun is as far-fetched a notion as a flying elephant.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The whole situation puzzled me-the atmosphere even seemed charged with eerie energy.—
Joel M. Vance,
Outdoor Life,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Snook and Lacy, who display such sharp instincts in their best work, seem to have been directed to overact; cameras freeze on their exaggeratedly bewildered or angry or devastated expressions, putting exclamation points at the end of too many scenes.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Instead, a bewildered stranger answers the door.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
This isn’t the first time injuries have hampered Norfleet.—
Chase Gemes,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
-
All of these issues combined have left Target with a workforce that has grown faster than sales and a complex corporate structure that has hampered decision-making and created needless red tape.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,Annie Palmer,Frank Holland,
CNBC,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Farmers’ Almanac will be gone for good after its final 2026 edition, not to be confused with The Old Farmer's Almanac, a separate publication.—
Alex Perry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Blue Origin also launches New Shepard from Texas The New Glenn spacecraft is not to be confused with Blue Origin's much smaller New Shepard rocket that the company launches from West Texas on brief trips taking paying passengers high above Earth's atmosphere.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Farhood enrolled at a local community college and worked multiple serving jobs, playing around with makeup and sharing images of just her eyes to a personal Instagram account — too embarrassed that her friends might find out about her hobby.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
-
But after his team was embarrassed in Ottawa, Sturm had a good feeling about is players.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Baffled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baffled. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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