Synonyms of baffle

baffle 1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈba-fəl 

1

as in to frustrate

to prevent from achieving a goal

the language barrier baffled everyone and discouraged us from attempting another teleconference

Synonyms & Similar Words

• frustrate
• hamper
• thwart
• foil
• prevent
• balk
• stop
• hinder
• defeat
• impede
• discomfit
• overcome
• beat
• checkmate
• obstruct
• halt
• clog
• block
• inhibit
• preclude
• handicap
• interfere (with)
• bar
• obviate
• check
• encumber
• tie up
• arrest
• stall
• set back
• hold back
• avert
• offset
• nullify
• neutralize
• shackle
• forestall
• negate
• counteract
• short-circuit
• conquer
• hobble
• trammel
• fetter
• manacle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• encourage
• forward
• promote
• assist
• further
• foster
• aid
• advance
• cultivate
• facilitate
• nurture
• ease
• abet
• smooth

2

as in to perplex

to throw into a state of mental uncertainty

she was baffled by the wording of the clause in the insurance policy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• perplex
• bewilder
• confuse
• puzzle
• befuddle
• mystify
• embarrass
• confound
• bemuse
• rattle
• flummox
• discombobulate
• vex
• stun
• disorient
• muddle
• disturb
• bother
• maze
• bamboozle
• fluster
• pose
• fuddle
• gravel
• addle
• upset
• befog
• fox
• muddy
• buffalo
• get
• unsettle
• beat
• blow one's mind
• stick
• disconcert
• stump
• agitate
• discomfit
• faze
• go to one's head
• nonplus
• deceive
• distress
• mislead
• mortify
• abash
• perturb
• trick
• discomfort
• unhinge
• fool
• delude
• weird out
• disquiet
• dismay
• discountenance
• beguile
• discompose
• chagrin
• hoodwink
• misguide
• humbug
• hoax
• gull
• snow
• dupe
• take in
• cozen
• string along

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• assure
• satisfy
• inform
• reassure
• enlighten

baffle

2 of 5

noun (1)

as in fender

Related Words

• fender
• cushion
• bumper
• buffer
• shield
• muffler
• cocoon
• pad
• cushioning
• padding
• safeguard
• barricade
• cordon

baffling

3 of 5

adjective

as in perplexing

Related Words

• perplexing
• puzzling
• confusing
• confounding
• frustrating
• muddled
• bewildering
• disorganized
• confused
• disjointed
• unorganized
• disordered
• disconcerting
• incoherent
• disorderly
• illogical
• inconsistent
• unusual
• irrational
• unconnected
• bizarre
• disconnected
• eccentric
• strange
• absurd
• unreasonable
• ridiculous
• choppy
• curious
• fallacious
• foolish
• outlandish
• odd
• weird
• meaningless
• inexplicable
• nonsensical
• invalid
• peculiar
• unconvincing
• unsound
• asinine
• preposterous
• screwy
• outré
• silly
• nutty
• unexplainable
• unaccountable
• senseless

Dissimilar Words

• coherent
• systematic
• connected
• reasonable
• logical
• solid
• valid
• orderly
• sound
• rational
• sensible
• compelling
• organized
• plausible
• convincing
• ordered
• persuasive
• clear
• satisfying
• systematized
• unmistakable
• unambiguous
• transparent
• unequivocal
• cogent
• lucid
• clear-cut
• perspicuous

baffling

4 of 5

noun (2)

as in thwarting

Related Words

• thwarting
• frustration
• deterrence
• checkmate
• balking
• forbidding
• barring
• crossing
• debarment
• neutralization
• determent
• nullification
• negation
• foiling
• prohibiting
• proscribing
• outlawing
• circumvention
• prohibition
• enjoining
• avoidance
• interdiction
• proscription
• prevention
• interdicting
• precluding
• averting
• forestallment

Dissimilar Words

• support
• assistance
• aid
• backing
• promotion
• encouragement
• advancement
• cultivation
• facilitation
• nurture

baffling

5 of 5

verb (2)

present participle of baffle

1

as in frustrating

to prevent from achieving a goal

the language barrier baffled everyone and discouraged us from attempting another teleconference

Synonyms & Similar Words

• frustrating
• hampering
• thwarting
• discomfiting
• balking
• defeating
• hindering
• preventing
• stopping
• overcoming
• impeding
• beating
• halting
• foiling
• checkmating
• blocking
• obstructing
• arresting
• handicapping
• barring
• interfering (with)
• inhibiting
• clogging
• checking
• stalling
• encumbering
• holding back
• hobbling
• precluding
• tying up
• obviating
• nullifying
• neutralizing
• forestalling
• negating
• offsetting
• counteracting
• conquering
• averting
• manacling
• fettering
• shackling
• short-circuiting
• setting back
• trammeling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• encouraging
• promoting
• advancing
• furthering
• fostering
• assisting
• aiding
• cultivating
• forwarding
• facilitating
• nurturing
• abetting
• smoothing
• easing

2

as in puzzling

to throw into a state of mental uncertainty

she was baffled by the wording of the clause in the insurance policy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• puzzling
• perplexing
• bewildering
• confusing
• mystifying
• befuddling
• embarrassing
• vexing
• bemusing
• confounding
• stunning
• disturbing
• flummoxing
• disorienting
• rattling
• discombobulating
• upsetting
• bamboozling
• muddling
• bothering
• flustering
• posing
• fuddling
• muddying
• unsettling
• addling
• mazing
• befogging
• getting
• graveling
• beating
• disconcerting
• foxing
• distressing
• buffaloing
• blowing one's mind
• discomfiting
• stumping
• dismaying
• mortifying
• disquieting
• sticking
• going to one's head
• discomforting
• perturbing
• misleading
• nonplussing
• agitating
• abashing
• deceiving
• fazing
• beguiling
• unhinging
• discountenancing
• weirding out
• discomposing
• misguiding
• fooling
• tricking
• deluding
• humbugging
• hoaxing
• duping
• gulling
• hoodwinking
• chagrining
• snowing
• taking in
• cozening
• stringing along

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• satisfying
• assuring
• reassuring
• informing
• enlightening

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

Recent Examples of baffle

Verb

In the sixth inning, Jasson Domínguez battled Skubal for eight pitches, surviving against the stuff that baffled him earlier in the game. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 June 2026

They were equally baffled by the aggressive flavorlessness of a Michelob Ultra. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 13 June 2026

Noun

Its other features include an adjustable hood and hem and generously sized baffle pockets. — Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 13 Apr. 2026

Unlike many baffle-box down duvets, this one is conveniently machine-washable and allergen-free. — Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026

Adjective

Vic makes some baffling choices here, buzzing in twice on the first word in the series without hearing the rest, and getting eliminated from multiple rounds five seconds in. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 30 June 2026

And that’s not the only answer to lingering questions authorities are waiting on in the baffling search for Oscar Sanchez-Munoz. — Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026

Noun

Those who knew me found this baffling. — ArsTechnica, 25 May 2026

That said, the good outweighs the baffling. — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 29 Oct. 2025

Verb

Though still fuming from his team’s baffling loss to the Bulls – the Warriors squandered an eight-point lead with 91 seconds remaining – Kerr found his composure long enough to crack a joke. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026

The steel pipe's unexpected growth spurt was reported to police early Wednesday by a pedestrian who saw broken pieces of asphalt falling from the cylinder, baffling people passing by and causing traffic congestion. — CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026