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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in perplexing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in thwarting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
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
Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
But there were strengths here, too, none more than England’s impervious Lazarus complex, that baffling inability to know when one is in a state of emergency.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Simon Hill, Wired News, 11 July 2025
There was debris on a plastic baffle plate inside the ice machine.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 21 Mar. 2025
Marsha Sutton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
Making his lack of usage even more baffling, the Bills signed Cook on a four-year, $48 million contract extension before the start of the 2025 season.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
In May, Kennedy vowed to find what caused autism by September, baffling scientists who near-unanimously believe there is no one cause of the condition.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for baffle
Verb
One morning, members of the Fort Greely missile defense base spot an ICBM of unknown origin on a suborbital trajectory heading straight for Chicago, baffling the country’s top intelligence and defense teams who only have 18 minutes to respond before impact.
—Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
But there were strengths here, too, none more than England’s impervious Lazarus complex, that baffling inability to know when one is in a state of emergency.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
The best way to achieve this is by attaching your feeder to a pole with a baffle.
—Simon Hill, Wired News, 11 July 2025
There was debris on a plastic baffle plate inside the ice machine.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
This is not just baffling but really inexcusable.
—Marsha Sutton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
Making his lack of usage even more baffling, the Bills signed Cook on a four-year, $48 million contract extension before the start of the 2025 season.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
That said, the good outweighs the baffling.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
The next morning, despite an extensive search of the ship, she could not be found, baffling the family, passengers and crew — and sparking an FBI investigation that is still currently open.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
In May, Kennedy vowed to find what caused autism by September, baffling scientists who near-unanimously believe there is no one cause of the condition.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for baffle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baffle
Adjective
-
Played for comic relief, he is baffled by this son of his who attends college and, more perplexing yet, is suddenly obsessed with Italy and cycling.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The sheriff’s office was called, and initially the deaths were deemed suspicious, though the situation seemed more perplexing than criminal.—
Joy Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The second flare is even more puzzling.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Staffers spent the weekend trading calls and texts, trying to piece together who had been axed, who had been spared, and, most puzzling, why.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Outside of safety concerns, a toy intended for an older child can be frustrating and confusing to younger children.—
Anja Webb,
Parents,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Without that administrative approval, Medicare patients — and their doctors — have been left in a very complicated and confusing limbo.—
Yuki Noguchi,
NPR,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
What is the most confounding and terrible, however, is Gretchen’s assertion that Slade, the anti-Viagra, doesn’t get involved with the women on his own accord, but only engages because the women always talk about him.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The offense’s struggles are the most confounding.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Filling up your tank can be a frustrating experience in today's economy, and the Sonata Hybrid limits that experience.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Mixed messaging from the federal and state government has been frustrating for recipients.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The second episode is heavy on introductions and reveals without a clear anchor, and that makes for a muddled hour, despite some real bright spots.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
3 Nov. 2025
-
But in 2022, Maserati reminded us that there’s another Italian car company, with a rich 108-year history and a respected name, but one that has been tarnished by missteps and muddled strategies in recent years.—
Lawrence Ulrich,
Robb Report,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The friction can be bewildering.—
Kate Bernot,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Bizarre pivot Trump’s sudden embrace of Jewish students, pitting them against purportedly reckless university leaders, remains bewildering.—
James Druckman,
Mercury News,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
My old team was a mess and disorganized.—
Jessica Roiz,
Billboard,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The defense was often tangled or disorganized getting back in transition.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Baffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baffle. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share