Definition of bafflednext
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

baffled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of baffle
1
2

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 baffled
Adjective
What baffled Russell was the difference in straight-line speed. — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 21 July 2026 The cat’s baffled loss takes center stage while the human mourner remains on the sidelines. — Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
Verb
On a lesser show, Lee would have thrown Dale a meaningful look, baffled that the material world was aligning with the woo-woo. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026 Beyond being frustrated with the secrecy, locals said they were baffled by the lack of specifics and clarity the stakeholders had about the project, per the records. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for baffled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baffled
Adjective
  • Part of the problem, which is somewhat unique to MRT, said Kahn, the Johns Hopkins bioethicist, is that scientists and ethicists are perplexed about how to establish its safety.
    — Megan Molteni, STAT, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The perplexed inspector has no idea what – or where – that is.
    — Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • A couple of Lake County coaches are frustrated because their teams were not allowed to participate in this year’s FHSAA Florida Invitational Tournament football playoffs.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Alderwoman Diesha Contee, whose ward includes most of the city’s public housing, said residents and their advocates are frustrated.
    — Nats_syndicator, Baltimore Sun, 10 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • The existence of supermassive black holes before the universe was even 1 billion years old is something that has puzzled astronomers since the JWST started spotting them in 2022.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • All day on Sunday, there seemed to be a back-and-forth of praise from the right, and puzzled outrage on the left.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • For the first 12 minutes, the Bulls watched Brunson with the bewildered air of a student who forgot to study for a test.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The Heat awoke Tuesday as the NBA’s only 0-4 team and thoroughly bewildered about how a group that fashioned itself a contender could continue to perform so poorly.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Along with declines at Showtime, the BET+ integration hampered total DTC growth by 6%.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 9 Nov. 2026
  • In October too, Ukraine’s ability to use Starshield, a military-grade version of Elon Musk’s Starlink service that is critical to its military operations, was hampered when speed limits were imposed on the satellite terminals.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • The ballot paper was a large sheet, and I was confused by the plethora of party symbols printed on it.
    — Sonia Gandhi, Vanity Fair, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Critics have praised the book’s dark humor, though some have been confused by its elusive narrative.
    — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • The Cowboys were 1-7 and had just been embarrassed on national TV in Green Bay when Phillips was let go in 2010.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Perhaps the raccoon was simply embarrassed by the miscalculation of the size of its head in relation to the size of the hole.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Baffled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baffled. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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