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
Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 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
Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 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
This trend has baffled parents and teachers while taking over classrooms, playgrounds, playdates.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 18 Sep. 2025
Hermit, to his credit, seems equally baffled by his actions and drops his gun in a state of panic.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Advertisement But days after the shooting, authorities have yet to discover a coherent motive for the killing of Kirk—the founder of Turning Point USA and a popular figure on the American right—and experts on extremism are similarly baffled by the possible motivations.
—Richard Hall, Time, 13 Sep. 2025
The result is a set of policies that has baffled some China experts, or at least raised questions about the president’s stance on America’s friendly rival.
—Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Though relieved to see the show continue on, Mowry-Housley said she and twin sister Tia were baffled by the change.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
The notes — about 30 rows of capital letters, numbers, dashes and parentheses broken into sections — baffled investigators.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 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
Fans in the surrounding section can be heard in shock, baffled that the man gave away such a coveted possession.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 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
This trend has baffled parents and teachers while taking over classrooms, playgrounds, playdates.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 18 Sep. 2025
Hermit, to his credit, seems equally baffled by his actions and drops his gun in a state of panic.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Advertisement But days after the shooting, authorities have yet to discover a coherent motive for the killing of Kirk—the founder of Turning Point USA and a popular figure on the American right—and experts on extremism are similarly baffled by the possible motivations.
—Richard Hall, Time, 13 Sep. 2025
The result is a set of policies that has baffled some China experts, or at least raised questions about the president’s stance on America’s friendly rival.
—Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Though relieved to see the show continue on, Mowry-Housley said she and twin sister Tia were baffled by the change.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baffled
Adjective
-
Zahn is a master at non-verbal incredulity, and Coach Hudson’s perplexed patience in the face of Chad’s weirdness is never not entertaining.—
Kristen Baldwin,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Another surprise that has long perplexed researchers is those algorithms’ knack for their own, strange kind of creativity.—
Webb Wright,
Wired News,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Kiehne was frustrated with the Joneses because the county government wouldn’t grade the dirt road up to his ranch, a rambling territory along the New Mexico border.—
Mitch Moxley,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
-
The actor's appeal will no doubt help Chad Powers draw viewers in — but those that stick around may be frustrated by the comedy's abrupt finale.—
Kristen Baldwin,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Reports surfaced claiming that WWE was puzzled by such a low grade, followed by rumors that the company pushed to have Hale fired from his position at ESPN.—
Fernando Quiles Jr,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Wenhardt stared at his pages, puzzled.—
Jane Bua,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
William is totally bewildered and frustrated that it’s being sanctioned.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Looking at the Williams in the wrong spot, the crew looked bewildered, while one person signaled Sainz to move on.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Seven in 10 Gen Xers say inflation has hampered their savings.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
-
But its progress was hampered by the security and economic crisis resulting from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
By bridging cutting-edge research with accessible, actionable advice, this book fills a critical gap in the menopause conversation — one that has left millions of women confused, underserved and unheard.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Arthur’s confused by his brother’s anger.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Baffled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baffled. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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