bewildering

adjective

be·​wil·​der·​ing bi-ˈwil-d(ə-)riŋ 

bē-

: extremely confusing or difficult to understand

an utterly bewildering experience

a bewildering number of possibilities

… a place of odd traditions and bewildering practices.

—David Williamson

bewilderingly adverb

a bewilderingly complex situation

Examples of bewildering in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the last few months, Instagram has added a slew of features that are helpful for creators, but that might seem slightly bewildering to everyone else. — Mia Sato, The Verge, 21 July 2026

The act behind the most bewildering ambient techno of the past 15 years is not a shadowy syndicate or group of evil geniuses. — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 6 July 2026

Here, clouds of stars and dark interstellar dust combine in a bewildering array as seen in binoculars and telescopes. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 26 June 2026

Yesterday, the Blazers finally hired a coach, and the contract details of the move were bewildering. — Zach Harper, New York Times, 24 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined above