befuddle

verb

be·​fud·​dle bi-ˈfə-dᵊl 

bē-

befuddled; befuddling; befuddles

transitive verb

1

: to muddle or stupefy with or as if with drink

… befuddled with drink all the time.

—Ellen Glasgow

2

: confuse, perplex

a problem that still befuddles the experts

befuddlement

bi-ˈfə-dᵊl-mənt 

bē-

noun

Synonyms of befuddle

• bewilder
• perplex
• confuse
• baffle
• puzzle

Examples of befuddle in a Sentence

most of the applicants were befuddled by the wording of one of the questions on the driving test

Recent Examples on the Web

Back then, Newcastle’s thin squad staggered between results, lurching from challenging the best sides in the league to befuddling losses to inferior squads. —Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025

Making the glass dome is the part that befuddles most of them. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025

After allowing a first-inning run, Gausman retired 17 straight Los Angeles Dodgers hitters, befuddling one of the most talented lineups in the history of the sport. —Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025

OpenAI appeared befuddled at the bad reception and promised to make changes. —Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

be- + fuddle

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for befuddle

• cuddle
• huddle
• muddle
• puddle

Kids Definition

befuddle

verb

be·​fud·​dle bi-ˈfəd-ᵊl 

befuddled; befuddling

-ˈfəd-liŋ, 

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to dull the senses of with or as if with too much drink : stupefy

2

: confuse sense 1a, perplex

befuddlement

-mənt 

noun