baffle

verb baf·fle \ ˈba-fəl \

Definition of baffle

baffled; baffling play \-f(ə-)liŋ\

transitive verb

1 :to defeat or check (someone) by confusing or puzzling :to confuse or frustrate completely :disconcert

Her behavior baffled her parents.

2 :to check or break the force or flow of by or as if by a baffle (see ²baffle)

baffle the steam

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bafflement

play \-fəl-mənt\ noun

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baffler

play \-f(ə-)lər\ noun

See baffle defined for English-language learners

See baffle defined for kids

Examples of baffle in a Sentence

I was baffled by many of the scientific terms used in the article.
the language barrier baffled everyone and discouraged us from attempting another teleconference

Recent Examples of baffle from the Web

Arsenal fans were baffled at the weekend when new signing Alexandre Lacazette was left on the bench against Liverpool.

— SI.com, "VIDEO: Arsenal Striker Alexandre Lacazette Scores Outrageous Chip in France Training," 29 Aug. 2017
Pssst: we're completely baffled by which one of Caitriona's responses is a lie.

— mehera bonner, Marie Claire, "On Set with 'Outlander': Go Behind the Scenes of the Show's Sexiest Season Yet," 7 Aug. 2017
Inside she was baffled: Usually people mistakenly think that Planned Parenthood is encouraging women to have abortions; rarely do people think the social workers are trying to talk women out of them.

— susan dominus, Glamour, "The Quiet, Revolutionary Act of Working at Planned Parenthood," 3 Aug. 2017
When Trump fired acting attorney general Sally Yates for directing U.S. attorneys not to defend the travel ban, Veselnitskaya was baffled.

— julia ioffe, The Atlantic, "The Russian Attorney at the Center of the Trump Jr. Scandal," 15 July 2017
Even established migrants are sometimes baffled by the British system.

— The Economist, "Poles apartWhy central and eastern European children lag behind in British schools," 13 July 2017
THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch play father-and-son coroners baffled by a young female homicide victim with no ID and some baffling clues — who then disappears.

— chris foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "New on DVD this week: 'Fate of the Furious,' 'Lost City of Z,' 'Smurfs 2'," 11 July 2017
THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch play father-and-son coroners baffled by a young female homicide victim with no ID and some baffling clues — who then disappears.

— chris foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "New on DVD this week: 'Fate of the Furious,' 'Lost City of Z,' 'Smurfs 2'," 11 July 2017
Michael McFaul, who served as the ambassador to Russia during the Obama administration, sounds equal parts baffled and alarmed by the arrangement, which seems like an ominous combination in this context!

— jay willis, GQ, "Donald Trump Will Only Bring Rex Tillerson to His Meeting with Vladimir Putin," 7 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'baffle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of baffle

probably alteration of Middle English (Scots) bawchillen to denounce, discredit publicly

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1675

See Words from the same year

baffle Synonyms

Synonyms

frustrate, balk, beat, checkmate, discomfit, foil, thwart

Antonyms

advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nurture, promote

Related Words

bar, block, clog, encumber, fetter, hamper, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, tie up, trammel; arrest, check, halt, set back, short-circuit, stall, stop; avert, forestall, obviate, preclude, prevent; negate, neutralize, nullify; counteract, offset; conquer, defeat, overcome

Near Antonyms

abet, aid, assist; ease, facilitate, smooth

Synonym Discussion of baffle

frustrate, thwart, foil, baffle, balk mean to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal. frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent.