1
as in to frustrate
to prevent from achieving a goal
the language barrier baffled everyone and discouraged us from attempting another teleconference
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in perplexing
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as in thwarting
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of baffle
EW.com, 16 June 2025
Insiders are baffled at the White House’s decision to drastically cut USAID OIG’s work and then merge it with the State OIG, which focuses on investigating crimes committed through the department’s diplomatic network, sources said.
—Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
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
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 30 May 2025
Here, the end of the world seems both baffling and boring.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for baffle
Verb
As the world changes around him, the conservative family man tries his best to be a good husband to Peggy (Kathy Najimy) and father to Bobby (Pamela Adlon), whose sensitivity and theatrics frequently baffle him.
—EW.com, 16 June 2025
Insiders are baffled at the White House’s decision to drastically cut USAID OIG’s work and then merge it with the State OIG, which focuses on investigating crimes committed through the department’s diplomatic network, sources said.
—Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 13 June 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
Adjective
There’s the energy and fight, which seems to have gone out of this team like an electric factory doused by a baffling power outage, and the frustration that there don’t seem to be any clear solutions, never mind quick fixes.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 30 May 2025
Here, the end of the world seems both baffling and boring.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for baffle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baffle
Adjective
-
Ehlers’ usage with the Jets has long been perplexing with 2024-25 being his third straight season playing under 16 minutes.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
-
In the end, Blakey said, the forces that landed Madigan in his courtroom were perplexing.—
Ray Long,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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The description is a bit over the top, but what seems even more puzzling is that the restoration was financed by an industrial shipyard.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
20 June 2025
-
All that said, the this weekend’s Matchday 17 schedule is extremely puzzling, particularly the early portion of it, in which there are two matches that will clash significantly with the UEFA Champions League Final between Paris-St. Germain and Inter Milan.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
What’s more frustrating is that neither of the bracket’s two best overall performers will be proceeding on to the semifinals, and in hindsight, one of them — Acid Betty — really wasn’t given a chance.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
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The most frustrating character on The Bear continues to be Claire (Molly Gordon), whose on-screen role in Season 3 was limited, but whose importance even as an unseen force has grown and grown.—
Linda Holmes,
NPR,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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This book is his opus, one bewildering, confusing, meandering, and disorienting episodic tale after another involving reporters, runways, and casinos, back when Vegas was gloriously trashy.—
Brian Boone,
Vulture,
18 June 2025
-
The judge’s tone is one of bewilderment because these circumstances are indeed bewildering, and no doubt would be to the Founding Fathers who expressly rejected monarchy and established a system of government where the citizenry would be free to express its discontent at government policies.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
15 June 2025
Adjective
-
What To Know The NWS National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Monday morning that satellite imagery showed disorganized showers and thunderstorms positioned east of an area of low pressure, roughly 600 miles east of Bermuda.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
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Among these, schizophrenia, a complex mental health condition marked by hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, stands out.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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Despite decades of existence, Jack in the Box’s sales remain stagnant, its strategy appears confused, and investors are becoming increasingly uneasy.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
-
Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, was left confused by the team’s strategy call — having gone long on the opening stint, but never seemed like a genuine threat to the leaders and lacking the outright pace of Lando Norris on the same strategy.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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The protectionist defenses of them are so disjointed and incoherent that the reasons for their appeal are challenging to discern.—
Joseph Palange,
National Review,
16 Apr. 2025
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This integrated approach reduces errors due to disjointed, human-dependent processes and decreases fees associated with international currency transactions.—
Benjamin Avraham,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Chaos Gardens Can Attract Pests and Diseases A dense, unorganized garden can restrict airflow and trap humidity, creating perfect conditions for fungal diseases.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2025
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Digital clutter— unread emails, countless open tabs, and thousands of unorganized photos—can feel like a burden and actually hinder your productivity and focus.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Baffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baffle. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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