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

The reasoning behind this firing will no doubt be revealed in the coming days, but for now, NBA fans are left befuddled at one of the league's top head coaches losing their job. —Mikai Bruce, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025

Those secrets created De Niro’s glorified and most memorable street hoodlums and now befuddle his current crazy-man public image. —Armond White, National Review, 21 Mar. 2025

Tasks that once took hours can be accomplished in minutes; problems can be instantly analyzed; befuddling subjects can be made welcoming through conversation. —Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2025

In his wrap-up speech, Looney said he was befuddled about some concerns about the nomination. —Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 15 Apr. 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