1
as in frustrates
to prevent from achieving a goal
the language barrier baffled everyone and discouraged us from attempting another teleconference
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in perplexes
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
she was baffled by the wording of the clause in the insurance policy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of baffles
Ben Coxworth
may 11, New Atlas, 11 May 2026
This baffles and outrages Angela, a protective mom who, with other parents, pushes back against Gabor using her math classroom as a forum for introducing the outside world’s worst actions.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026
His disaffection baffles his acquaintances and pains his tubercular wife (a superb Quinn Jackson), whose doctor (Lambert Tamin) has only contempt for her husband’s agonizing.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
The lack of critical thinking right now actually baffles me.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
The move baffles health care advocates and Medicaid experts.
—Daniel Chang, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
Mount predator baffles and guards to the pole or tree during installation.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
The continued controversy over the Bad Bunny Super Bowl performance baffles me.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026
Patagonia’s proprietary synthetic fill imitates down’s structure by spinning air-trapping microfilaments around a central fiber and requires fewer stabilizing seams and baffles than down.
—Kelly Bastone, Outside, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
Multiple baffles within the bladder help keep the liquid from sloshing around excessively, while a wide waterproof zipper across the top makes for easy filling, cleaning, and adding of electrolytes.
—Ben Coxworth
may 11, New Atlas, 11 May 2026
This baffles and outrages Angela, a protective mom who, with other parents, pushes back against Gabor using her math classroom as a forum for introducing the outside world’s worst actions.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026
His disaffection baffles his acquaintances and pains his tubercular wife (a superb Quinn Jackson), whose doctor (Lambert Tamin) has only contempt for her husband’s agonizing.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
The lack of critical thinking right now actually baffles me.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
The move baffles health care advocates and Medicaid experts.
—Daniel Chang, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
Mount predator baffles and guards to the pole or tree during installation.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
The continued controversy over the Bad Bunny Super Bowl performance baffles me.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026
Patagonia’s proprietary synthetic fill imitates down’s structure by spinning air-trapping microfilaments around a central fiber and requires fewer stabilizing seams and baffles than down.
—Kelly Bastone, Outside, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baffles
Verb
-
Every customer service call, chatbot exchange, product review, email, and digital interaction contains insight into what customers expect, what frustrates them, and what ultimately builds loyalty.—
Gary Drenik,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
Blackstone tends to put their grease trap holes at the back of the cooktops, which always frustrates me since much of the oil pools in the front.—
Jennifer Zyman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
But the unknown in that equation is what perplexes the Mavericks and has the team stuck for now.—
Tim Cowlishaw,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Nandi is experiencing severe insomnia, tremors and psychosis, and her quickly deteriorating condition bewilders the emergency room staff.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
Dark wood, red cushions, thick green curtains, white columns, sparkling chandeliers, and touches of gold and silver fill the spaces.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
The seats are fitted with removable cushions with machine-washable covers for easy maintenance.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The whole concept of toxic fandom confuses me because, outside of the anger and backwards thinking, because who cares about a movie franchise that much?—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
-
The herb’s fragrance confuses and deters pests from eating your peppers.—
Sheryl Geerts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Although all of the cars in the race had been pruned of windshield and fenders, even the exhaust system and muffler had been removed on these Fords so that four snub-nosed pipes jutted straight from the hood.—
Eric Moskowitz,
The Atlantic,
31 May 2026
-
The fenders are rated to 600 lb (272 kg).—
C.C. Weiss
May 22,
New Atlas,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
These word puzzles all covertly reference the years-old disappearance of Charlie, Martha’s brilliant older sister.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
4 June 2026
-
The lineage of these hybrids traces back to Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island, a discovery that still puzzles scientists today.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Baffles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baffles. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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