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
Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
The clear stance that the club has spent every available penny of their PSR allowance left many baffled, but the club’s accounts over the coming years will reveal all.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
And my parents are even baffled.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
Naturally, Owens made an appointment with her dentist, who was just as baffled.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Aug. 2025
Scientific experts who constantly monitor the Earth's rotation seem a bit baffled and amused that a few slightly more-speedy-than-normal spins this summer have captured the public's imagination.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 22 July 2025
But its favorite mood, by far, is one of mild titillation, which arises whenever something slightly out of the ordinary occurs—a ball flies into the crowd, a baffled bird pecks at the service line, a champagne cork enters the field of play—and a burr of chatter rips round the court.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 12 July 2025
What baffled doctors, however, was that the bone was not lodged in her throat but buried in the muscle tissue of her neck.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 3 July 2025
Fans, of course, remain baffled and angry and depressed over the lack of any visible progress on Martin’s sixth A Song Of Ice And Fire novel, The Winds Of Winter.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
And suddenly, Glenn and the Jets headed to halftime without running a play in the nearly 40 seconds at their disposal, a move that baffled both their loyalists in New Jersey and the Broncos’ sideline across the pond.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
What started as a tense visit quickly escalated into a situation that left the whole family baffled and frustrated.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Many creators were baffled at the inclusion of YouTube in the regulations, especially since Inman Grant acknowledges teens can still access the content without having an account, and there’s plenty to see without logging in.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Chastain, meanwhile, is the disruptor who stomped onto the scene in 2022 and surprised everyone — slamming contenders on the track, throwing punches off of it, riding walls into glory that baffled his competitors but simultaneously captured the collective race fan’s imagination.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2025
But the rhetoric has baffled Democrats, who see ER payments as effective and noncontroversial and are unwilling to disavow it.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Zeidman was baffled that Shane had been the first person Brooklyn prosecutors sought to execute.
—John J. Lennon, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025
Over the past 150 years, many knot theorists have been baffled by the unknotting number.
—Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Despite Banks’ enthusiasm, commenters were left baffled.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
The clear stance that the club has spent every available penny of their PSR allowance left many baffled, but the club’s accounts over the coming years will reveal all.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
And my parents are even baffled.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
Naturally, Owens made an appointment with her dentist, who was just as baffled.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Aug. 2025
Scientific experts who constantly monitor the Earth's rotation seem a bit baffled and amused that a few slightly more-speedy-than-normal spins this summer have captured the public's imagination.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 22 July 2025
But its favorite mood, by far, is one of mild titillation, which arises whenever something slightly out of the ordinary occurs—a ball flies into the crowd, a baffled bird pecks at the service line, a champagne cork enters the field of play—and a burr of chatter rips round the court.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 12 July 2025
What baffled doctors, however, was that the bone was not lodged in her throat but buried in the muscle tissue of her neck.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 3 July 2025
Fans, of course, remain baffled and angry and depressed over the lack of any visible progress on Martin’s sixth A Song Of Ice And Fire novel, The Winds Of Winter.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Verb
This isn’t the first time the value of a thrift store find has left the internet baffled.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
And suddenly, Glenn and the Jets headed to halftime without running a play in the nearly 40 seconds at their disposal, a move that baffled both their loyalists in New Jersey and the Broncos’ sideline across the pond.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
What started as a tense visit quickly escalated into a situation that left the whole family baffled and frustrated.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Many creators were baffled at the inclusion of YouTube in the regulations, especially since Inman Grant acknowledges teens can still access the content without having an account, and there’s plenty to see without logging in.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Chastain, meanwhile, is the disruptor who stomped onto the scene in 2022 and surprised everyone — slamming contenders on the track, throwing punches off of it, riding walls into glory that baffled his competitors but simultaneously captured the collective race fan’s imagination.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2025
But the rhetoric has baffled Democrats, who see ER payments as effective and noncontroversial and are unwilling to disavow it.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Zeidman was baffled that Shane had been the first person Brooklyn prosecutors sought to execute.
—John J. Lennon, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025
Over the past 150 years, many knot theorists have been baffled by the unknotting number.
—Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baffled
Adjective
-
As Markovic corrected himself, taking back the goal, the cameras cut to the Panthers' head coach Paul Maurice, who was visibly perplexed at the scenario as Devils fans cheered in the background.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
-
This will mainly result in perplexed parents receiving costly traffic citations.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But Republicans never shut down the government during the Biden presidency, and Vought grew increasingly frustrated with them for not using more aggressive tactics.—
Andy Kroll,
ProPublica,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Trump is growing increasingly frustrated at Putin’s unwillingness to discuss American ceasefire proposals.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The statues, which were carved and placed on the South Pacific's Easter Island between the 12th and 17th centuries, have puzzled travelers since the first European contact was made there in 1722.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
19 Oct. 2025
-
As my children both turned toward me, puzzled at my silence, the last three decades unfurled.—
Sofía Pereda,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Wounded and bewildered, Theresa vows—silently—never to have that feeling again, never to be at anyone else’s mercy.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
-
As Friday’s stabbing incident involving NFL alum Mark Sanchez slowly comes into focus, the team at Fox Sports seems to be just as bewildered as the rest of us.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Pitching without discomfort from the thumb, back and neck issues that hampered him at various points during the regular season.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
While our study dating back to 1984 found that certain environmental contaminants induce T cells that suppress the immune system, further study on such cells was hampered by an inability in the field at large to isolate and characterize these cells.—
Mitzi Nagarkatti,
The Conversation,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While some players confused her lyrics for other pop powerhouses', others showed off their Swiftie sides and extensive knowledge of her discography.—
Lex Goldstein,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Three stops into The Boy Is Mine Tour this week, fans of Brandy Norwood and Monica were left confused by the abrupt end to Saturday’s concert.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Baffled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baffled. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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