baffle 1 of 2

baffle

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb baffle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of baffle are balk, foil, frustrate, and thwart. While all these words mean "to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal," baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling.

baffled by the maze of rules and regulations

When would balk be a good substitute for baffle?

While in some cases nearly identical to baffle, balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances.

officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime

When can foil be used instead of baffle?

Although the words foil and baffle have much in common, foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort.

foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her

Where would frustrate be a reasonable alternative to baffle?

The synonyms frustrate and baffle are sometimes interchangeable, but frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent.

frustrated attempts at government reform

When is thwart a more appropriate choice than baffle?

The words thwart and baffle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing.

the army thwarted his attempt at a coup

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 baffle
Verb
Gabriel, especially, was the icing on the cake for those who were baffled that Sanders hadn't gone off the board, as some experts didn’t have him on their top five quarterback rankings heading into the draft. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2025 Since then, little information has surfaced, and the case continues to baffle investigators. Tommy McArdle, People.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
The 3-inch down topper has a 750-fill power which is distributed evenly with a three-dimensional baffle box stitching and encased in a cotton sateen shell. Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 19 Mar. 2025 Make birdfeeders inaccessible, such as by using a baffle. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 22 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for baffle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baffle
Verb
  • The naming practices can frustrate efforts to track the chemicals in food, to measure how much of the stuff people are taking in, and even to figure out precisely which chemicals a scientific study evaluated, researchers said.
    David Hilzenrath, CNN Money, 19 May 2025
  • Alex Caruso, the 6-foot-5 defensive savant who spent so much of the evening frustrating the 6-11 Nikola Jokić, was the real MVP of the night (Jokić had 20 points on 5-of-9 shooting, with nine rebounds, seven assists and five turnovers).
    Sam Amick, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • Many observers were perplexed that an eighty-two-year-old man with virtually unlimited access to medical care—and about whose health there has been virtually unlimited conjecture—could have gone undiagnosed until the cancer threatened his life.
    Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 22 May 2025
  • Social-media users were undoubtedly perplexed by the bone discovery, leading to more than 860 comments on the Instagram video.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • The Icons Collection medallion is mounted on the rear fender, while each bike's unique serial number is engraved on a commemorative tank console inlay.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 May 2025
  • Photo : Mercedes-Benz AG The color Race Gold festoons the outline of the radiator grille and front fenders, among other elements of the car.
    Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 4 May 2025
Verb
  • They were bewildered for me, and so was all the other staff.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Small wonder many of the migrants are disoriented and bewildered.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • That cushion held through the rest of the game but the Wings were able to claw into the lead as the Lynx’s 3-point shooting cooled in the second half.
    Chantel Jennings, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • Sometimes, guests retreated to sleep on foldout cushions in the two-bedroom loft, then showed up again in the morning to talk over coffee.
    Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Also, this word et cetera at the end of the sentence confused me.
    EW.com, EW.com, 26 May 2025
  • Weir was confused by the man’s unusual conviction, though.
    Louise Erdrich, New Yorker, 25 May 2025
Noun
  • The 32-year-old driver was docked 60 championship points and 5 playoff points for a front bumper violation in Kansas.
    Lydia Mee, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
  • Investigators at the scene found the housing to a side view mirror, a front driver’s side bumper component and a detached front driver’s side wheel trim.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • Listen to this article In 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery merged HBO Max and Discovery+ into a single streaming app called Max, with the puzzling decision to remove the HBO from the streaming app’s brand.
    Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
  • That drop has puzzled the Dodgers and the right-hander alike.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 14 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Baffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baffle. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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