befuddle
verb
be·fud·dle
bi-ˈfə-dᵊl 
bē-
befuddled; befuddling; befuddles
1
: to muddle or stupefy with or as if with drink
… befuddled with drink all the time.—
Ellen Glasgow
Ellen GlasgowSynonyms
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
Strangers are more likely to be flattered than befuddled.
—Angela Haupt, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
In August, a pod of nearly 100 pilot whales stranded themselves on the shore of an Australian beach, befuddling marine biologists and attracting international attentio when wildlife experts made the decision to euthanize them.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024
Avoid unfamiliar places and people, or situations that befuddle and leave you feeling vulnerable.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024
Both men have sometimes misspoken in ways that flummoxed their audiences and prompted explanations by aides afterwards, and Trump already has been hammering Biden as befuddled or worse.
—Susan Page, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024
This befuddling rule change has led to serious disruptions in the world of community oncology, where the vast majority of Americans receive their cancer care.
—Samyukta Mullangi, STAT, 1 Mar. 2024
Jean Stapleton co-starred as Archie’s befuddled, but good-hearted wife, Edith, and Sally Struthers played the Bunkers’ daughter, Gloria, who often clashed with Archie on behalf of her husband.
—Lynn Elber, Fortune, 6 Dec. 2023
The group was not here at the beginning, bouncing around all those other places, brought together by circumstances that continue to befuddle baseball.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Aug. 2023
Even if we also are entitled to feel befuddled by Yelp’s rejection — year after year.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 24 Jan. 2024
Angela Haupt, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
In August, a pod of nearly 100 pilot whales stranded themselves on the shore of an Australian beach, befuddling marine biologists and attracting international attentio when wildlife experts made the decision to euthanize them.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024
Avoid unfamiliar places and people, or situations that befuddle and leave you feeling vulnerable.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024
Both men have sometimes misspoken in ways that flummoxed their audiences and prompted explanations by aides afterwards, and Trump already has been hammering Biden as befuddled or worse.
—Susan Page, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024
This befuddling rule change has led to serious disruptions in the world of community oncology, where the vast majority of Americans receive their cancer care.
—Samyukta Mullangi, STAT, 1 Mar. 2024
Jean Stapleton co-starred as Archie’s befuddled, but good-hearted wife, Edith, and Sally Struthers played the Bunkers’ daughter, Gloria, who often clashed with Archie on behalf of her husband.
—Lynn Elber, Fortune, 6 Dec. 2023
The group was not here at the beginning, bouncing around all those other places, brought together by circumstances that continue to befuddle baseball.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Aug. 2023
Even if we also are entitled to feel befuddled by Yelp’s rejection — year after year.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 24 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'befuddle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near befuddle
Cite this Entry
“Befuddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/befuddle. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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