as in perplexed
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do
baffled viewers didn't know what to make of the strange antics of the talk show host
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in frustrated
to prevent from achieving a goal
the language barrier baffled everyone and discouraged us from attempting another teleconference
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in puzzled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
she was baffled by the wording of the clause in the insurance policy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of baffled
Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Emotional rollercoasters for baffled European allies.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
The world welterweight champion from San Antonio is as baffled as anyone.
—John Whisler, San Antonio Express-News, 20 Feb. 2026
During the latest hearing in the case, Young repeatedly seemed baffled that the country’s top leaders would attempt to implement such a policy.
—Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Many are somewhat baffled or turned off by the ale.
—Gary Stoller, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Why cells grow to just the right size has long baffled scientists.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Dec. 2025
Looking aghast, Kylie couldn’t help but go silent with a baffled expression for several seconds.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 30 Oct. 2025
Thousands of commenters responded with laughter, surprise, and sympathy for the dog’s baffled expression.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026
On Sunday, Roan responded on Instagram, seemingly baffled by the swirling controversy.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Astronomers have used the XRISM (X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) X-ray spacecraft to discover that a star is being slowly devoured by an elusive stellar companion, solving a mystery that has baffled scientists for over a century.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 25 Mar. 2026
The decision has baffled Apatow’s team and inner circle.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
One administrator told me that he was baffled, but that the embassy staff seemed confident that something would come of it.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Kokuho was her very first film, and the prospect of attending the Academy Awards astonished and baffled her.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026
Daniels’ answer baffled the host and audience.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
Kachel said Vank’s signature moment so far with the Plainsmen came in the regular season finale last season, when Vank baffled Western Nebraska Community College with eight innings of shutout ball, scattering three hits while racking up 10 strikeouts.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
But some children—Hazel, Evan, and, of course, Jude—baffled Lilian.
—Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Emotional rollercoasters for baffled European allies.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
The world welterweight champion from San Antonio is as baffled as anyone.
—John Whisler, San Antonio Express-News, 20 Feb. 2026
During the latest hearing in the case, Young repeatedly seemed baffled that the country’s top leaders would attempt to implement such a policy.
—Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Many are somewhat baffled or turned off by the ale.
—Gary Stoller, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Why cells grow to just the right size has long baffled scientists.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Dec. 2025
Looking aghast, Kylie couldn’t help but go silent with a baffled expression for several seconds.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 30 Oct. 2025
Thousands of commenters responded with laughter, surprise, and sympathy for the dog’s baffled expression.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
No one, not even Jason — who is baffled at the galley’s sudden collapse — is more surprised at Ellie’s outburst than Ben.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026
On Sunday, Roan responded on Instagram, seemingly baffled by the swirling controversy.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Astronomers have used the XRISM (X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) X-ray spacecraft to discover that a star is being slowly devoured by an elusive stellar companion, solving a mystery that has baffled scientists for over a century.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 25 Mar. 2026
The decision has baffled Apatow’s team and inner circle.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
One administrator told me that he was baffled, but that the embassy staff seemed confident that something would come of it.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Kokuho was her very first film, and the prospect of attending the Academy Awards astonished and baffled her.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026
Daniels’ answer baffled the host and audience.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
Kachel said Vank’s signature moment so far with the Plainsmen came in the regular season finale last season, when Vank baffled Western Nebraska Community College with eight innings of shutout ball, scattering three hits while racking up 10 strikeouts.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baffled
Adjective
-
As the recruits push through the toughest weeks of training, the narrative occasionally cuts to TV news reports of an asteroid entering Earth's atmosphere, leaving NASA utterly perplexed.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Reporters at the press conference, perplexed, asked Trump about the gap.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The San Jose Unified School District board voted Thursday night to shut down five elementary schools and relocate another at the end of the current school year, a decision that has left many parents and students frustrated and scrambling to adjust.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Americans are burned-out, frustrated, and hunting for scapegoats.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The remains of these unknown creatures often puzzled their discoverers.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
25 Mar. 2026
-
This has puzzled researchers because lithium metal is soft, while the ceramic electrolytes used in these batteries are rigid.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There was no punchline, no twist — just the straightforward, slightly bewildered observation that someone, somewhere, had performed surgery on a grape.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Exasperated, bewildered, and realizing other musicians were also dealing with this, Bender came up with a way to show just how porous the system was.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
His ability to hold runners has hampered him.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Jospin never embraced his role as a public figure, hampered by a restrained personality that grew even stiffer in front of cameras.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And now New Idea is reporting that Baker’s ex, Rebecca Rigg, who is very close to Kidman, is a bit confused by the situation.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
30 Mar. 2026
-
In addition, DraftKings argues that consumers aren’t confused by DraftKings’ use of March Madness.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
For anyone who feels embarrassed—everyone starts somewhere.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Also featuring Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer and Andy Serkis, the movie centered on teenage Jenna Rink, who gets embarrassed at a party and makes a wish that transforms her into her 30-year-old self, played by Garner.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Baffled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baffled. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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