as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion
new federal regulations that the easily bemused should make no attempt to read and understand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in intrigued
to hold the attention of
a public that seemed more bemused by the shenanigans of celebrities than by a war being waged half a world away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in puzzled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the stage mishap momentarily bemused the actress
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bemused
Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025
Admittedly the punishment might have been more for the apparent threat than the taboo language, but she was docked a point — which happened to be match point, handing the win to a bemused Kim Clijsters — and later fined $10,500 (£6,300 at the time).
—Nick Miller, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
Americanah, though lighter fare, is also a book of characters and ideas — a romance as well as a bemused meditation on American notions of racial identity.
—Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2025
The photo showed an A4-sized printout of a cat's face, looking slightly bemused.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bemused
Adjective
His manner with the girl is more bemused, placating.
—Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025
Admittedly the punishment might have been more for the apparent threat than the taboo language, but she was docked a point — which happened to be match point, handing the win to a bemused Kim Clijsters — and later fined $10,500 (£6,300 at the time).
—Nick Miller, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
Americanah, though lighter fare, is also a book of characters and ideas — a romance as well as a bemused meditation on American notions of racial identity.
—Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2025
The photo showed an A4-sized printout of a cat's face, looking slightly bemused.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bemused
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bemused
Adjective
-
The actor—who is also currently filming season three of Euphoria—took the time to walk the wide-eyed and probably quite bewildered pup around the carpeted front of the hotel, and looked chic doing it.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
7 May 2025
-
Heyman then handed the chair to a bewildered Roman Reigns, who used it to strike downed CM Punk.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Traded by the Angels and non-tendered by Atlanta, Canning signed with the Mets because he was intrigued by their successful major-league development of starters last season.—
Tim Britton,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
-
The Ravens would have to be intrigued if Banks falls in the mid-20s.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The museum show did happen — though some of what’s in it is fabricated, including a few fake ads for Apple and Absolut Vodka that the band very much did not shoot — but everyone in attendance seems a little dazed and confused about it, including the band.—
Alissa Wilkinson,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
-
Once Connor Brown deposited the puck into the empty Los Angeles net and rejoiced, the Kings milled about the ice in a dazed and confused state.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
The two ‘deals’ have left tariff policy more confused than ever, argues columnist Michael Hiltzik.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2025
-
Pew found 55% of Republicans are confused about the information out there on climate change--but this was also true for 39% of Democrats.—
Robert G. Eccles,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
Verb
-
Check out Pima Air & Space Museum For those fascinated by astronomy and aerospace, the Pima Air & Space Museum is an essential stop along Tucson’s Astro Trail.—
Visit Tucson,
AFAR Media,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Events that promote autonomous racecars and high performance consumer vehicles are thrilling because speed and competition between vehicles is something that has fascinated people for over a century.—
Sabbir Rangwala,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The server, a capricious machine with a battery of hard drives, occupied a soundproof box in his home studio.—
Julian Lucas,
The New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2025
-
Separately, Columbia University announced Thursday that students who occupied the campus' Hamilton Hall during pro-Palestinian protests last spring have been expelled, been suspended for several years or had their degrees temporarily revoked.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
People are unpredictable, distracted, under pressure.—
John Bowe,
CNBC,
1 May 2025
-
But sports cars can also be mishandled by distracted drivers, and Zahornacky said that’s what happened here.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
But by night, Robert immersed himself in a private version of Infinity tricked out to mimic his favorite Star Trek-like TV show and played all-powerful commander to a team of sentient, captive—and miserable—clones of Walton and other co-workers.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Based on their findings, the authors recommend pouring hot water over your coffee grounds slowly to give the beans more time immersed in the water.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bemused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bemused. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share