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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of baffled
Daniel Kurtzer, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
One of the best examples of that is phantom limb pain, which for a long time baffled people.
—Margaret Cirino, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
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
Brian Melley, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
Government officials, who had already introduced measures to ease the burden of price increases two weeks ago, have been baffled over the rationale behind the protests because the global price spike is due to the conflict in the Mideast that has restricted oil exports.
—Brian Melley, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Government officials, who had already introduced measures to ease the burden of price rises a few weeks ago, were baffled over the rationale behind the protests because the global price spike is due to the Middle East conflict that restricted oil exports.
—ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
The Late Show host appeared genuinely baffled by the president’s current poll numbers during his opening monologue on Tuesday, mostly due to the 22 percent of Americans who are still throwing their support behind the 79-year-old former reality star.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Apr. 2026
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
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
Adjective
One outcome — perhaps, a five-point plan While Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and others are actively pursuing diplomacy, Iran and Israel are not interested, and the United States appears baffled and unsteady.
—Daniel Kurtzer, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
One of the best examples of that is phantom limb pain, which for a long time baffled people.
—Margaret Cirino, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
Government officials, who had already introduced measures to ease the burden of price rises a few weeks ago, were baffled over the rationale behind the protests because the global price spike is due to the Middle East conflict that restricted oil exports.
—Brian Melley, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
Government officials, who had already introduced measures to ease the burden of price increases two weeks ago, have been baffled over the rationale behind the protests because the global price spike is due to the conflict in the Mideast that has restricted oil exports.
—Brian Melley, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Government officials, who had already introduced measures to ease the burden of price rises a few weeks ago, were baffled over the rationale behind the protests because the global price spike is due to the Middle East conflict that restricted oil exports.
—ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
The Late Show host appeared genuinely baffled by the president’s current poll numbers during his opening monologue on Tuesday, mostly due to the 22 percent of Americans who are still throwing their support behind the 79-year-old former reality star.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Apr. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baffled
Adjective
-
Billie looks perplexed, but clearly Joe is working on Irene somehow, as Irene is hanging on his every word.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Reporters at the press conference, perplexed, asked Trump about the gap.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Just like the no-keyboard iPhone, the announcement initially frustrated some users .—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Leo’s reserve frustrated those who wanted to enlist the first American pope as the primary antagonist to the American president.—
Francis X. Rocca,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There are, however, many lacunae in Paul’s writing and life that have puzzled readers.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
But how Bhuva's name came to be listed on reimbursements for at least 2,800 patients across 126 California hospices in 2024 is a question that has puzzled advocates who have tracked the unusual explosion of hospice providers in Southern California in recent years.—
Grace Manthey,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This sometimes left audience members bewildered about what had actually happened.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The passenger in the back eventually looked up from her phone, noticed Louise, and locked eyes with this bewildered-looking woman blocking the crosswalk.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Drone strikes and other attacks have hampered operations at energy ports in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and other nations, the Journal said.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Sandboxing allows firms to focus solely on moving experiments swiftly through the pilot phase because the teams working on them are not hampered by juggling experimentation with their day-to-day.—
Francesca Cassidy,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The south London BBQers were confused.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Microphones are a tool for speaking out loud, or singing, before a crowd, and Lee uses the object as a symbol of her own desire to speak and be understood, even when she is confused by competing cultures and unsure of her own voice.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Fearful and self-preserving silence, nervous and embarrassed avoidance, and even willful erasure kept stories like these in the dark.—
Chad S.A. Gibbs,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Brian Hecker, as the would-be beau, has little to do other than proffer an embarrassed smile.—
Gina Friedlande,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Baffled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baffled. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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