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
Taiye Selasi, New Yorker, 31 May 2026
The admission prompted baffled comments from a veteran federal judge.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 27 May 2026
The Sooners’ uncanny postseason successes leave many baffled.
—Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
The Young Man had never been more confused, conflicted, baffled.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
For 166 years, documents found with this sailor’s remains baffled researchers — until genetics provided an answer.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Glaser, no doubt like many viewers, seemed a little baffled when the Swift songs dried up, and Idol had to pad out the rest of the episode with songs themed around California.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2026
Not outraged but baffled, curious Kaho tries to find out his hidden message.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
What’s more, the legislation has no clear path to getting a vote on the House floor, which has left some of its backers even more baffled by the pushback.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 1 June 2026
While some were baffled by the posts amid Bear’s claims, others pointed out the ability to schedule posts, depending on the type of account.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 29 May 2026
In another excerpt from View from the East Wing, she is similarly baffled.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Her father, a gastroenterologist named Kenneth Rodgers, was baffled.
—Kavitha Surana, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Her father, a gastroenterologist named Kenneth Rodgers, was baffled.
—Kavitha Surana, ProPublica, 26 May 2026
The footage was reposted on TikTok, and the comments were divided—some were convinced that the lyrics had a dark undertone, while others were baffled that a throwaway TikTok meme could be used as evidence in court.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
They are baffled by filmmakers who do not think more aggressively about sustainability, ownership, and business models around their work.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 18 May 2026
Such an unconventional approach baffled plenty of people, including the show’s musical composer Marvin Hamlisch, who at the time was in high demand in the film industry and halfway to becoming an EGOT.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 18 May 2026
Adjective
But your mother remains utterly baffled.
—Taiye Selasi, New Yorker, 31 May 2026
The admission prompted baffled comments from a veteran federal judge.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 27 May 2026
The Sooners’ uncanny postseason successes leave many baffled.
—Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
The Young Man had never been more confused, conflicted, baffled.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
For 166 years, documents found with this sailor’s remains baffled researchers — until genetics provided an answer.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Glaser, no doubt like many viewers, seemed a little baffled when the Swift songs dried up, and Idol had to pad out the rest of the episode with songs themed around California.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2026
Not outraged but baffled, curious Kaho tries to find out his hidden message.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
What’s more, the legislation has no clear path to getting a vote on the House floor, which has left some of its backers even more baffled by the pushback.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
Cannonball Concretions Perfectly round rock formations in the North Unit baffled scientists for years.
—Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 1 June 2026
While some were baffled by the posts amid Bear’s claims, others pointed out the ability to schedule posts, depending on the type of account.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 29 May 2026
In another excerpt from View from the East Wing, she is similarly baffled.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Her father, a gastroenterologist named Kenneth Rodgers, was baffled.
—Kavitha Surana, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Her father, a gastroenterologist named Kenneth Rodgers, was baffled.
—Kavitha Surana, ProPublica, 26 May 2026
The footage was reposted on TikTok, and the comments were divided—some were convinced that the lyrics had a dark undertone, while others were baffled that a throwaway TikTok meme could be used as evidence in court.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
They are baffled by filmmakers who do not think more aggressively about sustainability, ownership, and business models around their work.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 18 May 2026
Such an unconventional approach baffled plenty of people, including the show’s musical composer Marvin Hamlisch, who at the time was in high demand in the film industry and halfway to becoming an EGOT.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 18 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baffled
Adjective
-
Those watching were perplexed that two people who could play husband and wife — albeit, locked in an abusive relationship — wouldn’t do press in the same room, let alone pose together at the premiere.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
-
For Bogaerts, Severino is the one who leaves him perplexed, the one who has him asking why this guy, of all guys, owns him.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
While many fans have questioned the sincerity of the effort that A’s owner John Fisher and MLB made to keep the A’s in Oakland, MLB officials also grew frustrated by the process.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
As Marcus spent more time mentoring his leading employees, their temperament shifted from frustrated to inspired, stirring more change in the workforce than Marcus ever could have achieved alone.—
Janine Schindler,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Two experts said they were puzzled by the release records.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
30 May 2026
-
Tim Ream is looking at you, puzzled.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Karl-Anthony Towns, who was on the podium with him, took off his glasses and looked at his teammate with a bewildered expression.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
-
Everyone was so relieved to see how bewildered everyone else was that the feeling in this place was almost festive.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
But like Hulst, he was also hampered by injuries.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
Clark is finally at full strength again after, hampered by a groin injury, played in only 13 games a year ago.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Using a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer, for example, the spectral biosignatures of carbon dioxide and methane may overlap, leading to the gasses being confused with each other and signs of life being dismissed or lost.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
1 June 2026
-
Brown women artists are often confused with anthropologists.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
Rhoda, so likable and charming and unassuming, looked embarrassed to be accepting praise for what was entirely Sherry’s dish, which made Sherry justifiably angry.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
28 May 2026
-
Or at least, Ewa Pajor and Salma Paralluelo made Goliath really, really embarrassed with their 4-0 victory over OL Lyonnes in the Champions League final last weekend.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Baffled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baffled. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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