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
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 Unlike other vacuums, the V11 won’t annoy your ears; its acoustic baffles improve airflow and keep the noise down to a decent 70-decibel level. Ho Lin, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
Noun
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 In the last few years, researchers have stumbled upon baffling signals from deep space, uncovered strange features hiding beneath our oceans, and found clues that hint at life’s secrets on other worlds. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for baffle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baffle
Verb
  • Larsen makes Didi’s absurd actions feel credible, something a woman frustrated with her own life would do, in haste, on behalf of another.
    Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
  • The East African nation has been frustrated about the poor equipment, lack of manpower and money to help dismantled Haiti’s gangs.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Taylor is accustomed to playing forceful characters who have perplexing emotions about motherhood, and in A Thousand and One, Taylor earned her stripes as a performer and acclaim.
    Essence, Essence, 18 Sep. 2025
  • For nearly 20 years, astronomers have been perplexed by the strange disk of dust and debris circling Fomalhaut, a bright star just 25 light-years from Earth.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Carrying game on a fender close to the hot engine is risky unless the weather is quite cold.
    Maurice H. Decker, Outdoor Life, 17 Sep. 2025
  • But it's based on the non-electric N-One model – which was inspired by the Honda N360 launched in 1967 – though with some EV-specific tweaks, including cleaner lines and more curves to the fenders and tail.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The designs were puckish and gender-bending, evoking both awe and repulsion—the sort of clothing that titillates lovers of conceptual fashion and bewilders the uninitiated.
    Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Cody Meissner, a pediatric professor at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine who has served on ACIP in the past—arguably the most qualified of Kennedy's new lineup—was bewildered at why the committee was rehashing the issue addressed years ago.
    Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The seats also contribute to the sense of verticality, with manual operation no less, but provide enough bolstering and cushion for daily life and long trips off-road alike.
    Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Grand Patio Outdoor Bean Bag Chair Get super comfy with this elevated outdoor beanbag chair, which features a sturdy steel frame and cloud-like cushions that are perfect for napping, reading, or suntanning.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Maybe Aer Lingus got confused when refunding your ticket.
    Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
  • That would be Black Rabbit, not to be confused with another Netflix original drama, Black Doves.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Becker, a gung-ho plant spotter, was hoping for a bumper year.
    Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Apply cabinet bumpers on the four corners of each base to keep surfaces scratch-free.
    Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Yet despite their popularity, pachycephalosaurs continue to puzzle paleontologists in part because fossils of these bipedal herbivores are rare, says Lindsay Zanno, a paleontologist at North Carolina State University.
    Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The move has puzzled many since ending the program would bar every company, including oil firms, from accessing federal subsidies for capturing carbon or producing hydrogen fuel.
    Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Baffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baffle. Accessed 25 Sep. 2025.

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