bewildered

adjective

be·​wil·​dered bi-ˈwil-dərd 

bē-

: deeply or utterly confused or perplexed

I was appalled and was too bewildered to do or say anything.

—Bram Stoker

He looked at her with a bewildered expression.

Speaking for myself, I stumbled into motherhood and was bewildered at the shift of gears, the volte-face required to reorient myself, my values and my way of life into being a carer of small children.

—Madeleine Bunting

Synonyms of bewildered

• dazed
• confused
• stunned
• distracted
• dizzy

Examples of bewildered in a Sentence

the bewildered child wandered aimlessly around the playground

Recent Examples on the Web

The movie took liberties, but White's fight for Stuart to be a mouse-like boy is an important part of his history, even if some are bewildered by it. —Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 13 Dec. 2025

Uma is bewildered at this new world, while Gopal can’t so much as look at her. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025

The Venezuelan woman looks bewildered. —Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 1 Dec. 2025

During the season, residents spread cheer with abandon and the true spirit of the holidays prevails, even for a bewildered George Bailey. —Stephanie Hunt, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1760, in the meaning defined above