baffled

adjective

baf·​fled ˈba-fəld How to pronounce baffled (audio)
1
: extremely confused or puzzled
… his explanation of a piano's key action will leave you more baffled than before.Martin Levine
Molecular biologists became even more baffled when they looked at the messenger RNAs: many of the molecules were longer than the DNA from which they had been transcribed.John Rennie
In Miss Kate's eyes there was a troubled, baffled look …Edna Ferber
We have all heard novelists testify to the fact that, beginning a new book, they are utterly baffled as to how to proceed …Donald Barthelme
2
: equipped with a baffle
Ventilation openings are baffled to prevent stray light from reaching the operator's eyes …Bausch & Lomb Catalog
A baffled fuel cell keeps the weight in place.Kevin Falvey

Examples of baffled in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The trial was an attempt to bring an ending, at last, to a mystery that had tortured her family and baffled strangers, including me. Monica Hesse, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2023 The insulation is a reflective film, with a baffled air chamber design, which helps keep it quiet. WIRED, 18 June 2023 The removal of the $347 million project, nearly half of which would be funded from UW-Madison donors, baffled members of the business community that are struggling to hire enough engineers. Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 13 June 2023 Tech aficionados and baffled bystanders, brace yourselves; the world is about to change. Geoffrey A. Fowler, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2023 The ending left me a little baffled and wanting to discuss! Marie Claire, 1 Sep. 2021 As the audience erupted with laughter, the camera zoomed in on Steve’s baffled look. Selena Barrientos, Good Housekeeping, 14 Dec. 2020 The agency’s earlier guidance to the contrary baffled health experts who couldn’t fathom why the nation’s top public health agency would say such a thing amid a pandemic that has been difficult to control. Chronicle Staff, SFChronicle.com, 22 Sep. 2020 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'baffled.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of baffled was in 1606

Dictionary Entries Near baffled

Cite this Entry

“Baffled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baffled. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

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