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

• addle
• baffle
• bamboozle
• beat
• befog
• bemuse
• bewilder
• buffalo
• confound
• confuse
• discombobulate
• disorient
• flummox
• fox
• fuddle
• get
• gravel
• maze
• muddle
• muddy
• mystify
• perplex
• pose
• puzzle
• vex

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

Spiritualists were also early adopters of novel technologies such as photography – still befuddling to their public – exploiting simple tricks such as double negatives to create phantom images. —Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024

Scientists are befuddled by the storm’s hexagonal shape. —Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Sep. 2024

Instead, similar to Yasmin, he’s almost constantly befuddled that all his rank and access and riches can’t make the commoners like him. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2024

Those commenting on Radford’s video are equally befuddled. —Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

be- + fuddle

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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