bamboozle

verb

bam·​boo·​zle bam-ˈbü-zəl 

bamboozled; bamboozling

bam-ˈbüz-liŋ,

-ˈbü-zə- 

transitive verb

1

: to deceive by underhanded methods : dupe, hoodwink

I got bamboozled by the salesperson to buy a more expensive model.

2

: to confuse, frustrate, or throw off thoroughly or completely

a quarterback bamboozled by an unexpected defense

bamboozlement

bam-ˈbü-zəl-mənt 

noun

Did you know?

In 1710, Irish author Jonathan Swift wrote an article on "the continual Corruption of our English Tongue" in which he complained of "the Choice of certain Words invented by some pretty Fellows." Among the inventions Swift disliked was bamboozle, which was used by contemporary criminals. Other than that, the origin of bamboozle remains a mystery, but the word has clearly defied Swift's assertion that "All new affected Modes of Speech ... are the first perishing Parts in any Language."

Synonyms

• beguile
• bluff
• buffalo
• burn
• catch
• con
• cozen
• deceive
• delude
• dupe
• fake out
• fool
• gaff
• gammon
• gull
• have
• have on [chiefly British]
• hoax
• hoodwink
• hornswoggle
• humbug
• juggle
• misguide
• misinform
• mislead
• snooker
• snow
• spoof
• string along
• suck in
• sucker
• take in
• trick

Examples of bamboozle in a Sentence

bamboozled by con men into buying worthless land in the desert

I'm completely bamboozled by the latest changes in the tax code

Recent Examples on the Web

If, in the first movie, Arthur was the shy, weird loser rejected by all women, now he’s being bamboozled by one. —Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 4 Oct. 2024

Just four minutes later, the Argentine had his second, bamboozling the Philadelphia defense to prod the ball into the net from an almost identical position. —Issy Ronald, CNN, 15 Sep. 2024

Gutierrez also concluded jurors were bamboozled by plaintiffs’ expert testimony that, to determine market prices, incorporated hypothetical scenarios. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2024

The team’s diverse spin attack – the three-pronged approach of Khan, Nabi and Noor Ahmad – has left opposing batters bamboozled, while its opening pairing of Gurbaz and Zadran have given it promising starts to games. —Ben Morse, CNN, 26 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

bamboozle

verb

bam·​boo·​zle

bam-ˈbü-zəl

bamboozled; bamboozling

1

: to deceive by trickery : hoodwink

2

: to confuse, frustrate, or throw off completely