1
as in to deceive
to cause to believe what is untrue
bamboozled by con men into buying worthless land in the desert
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to confuse
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
I'm completely bamboozled by the latest changes in the tax code
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bamboozle
Learning multiple languages is 100% worth it just for bamboozling people like that!
—
Darlin Tillery, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Cocker’s lessons covered addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, as well as calculation with pre-decimal British currency and a gentle introduction to 17th-century England’s bamboozling array of weights and measures.
—James Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Dec. 2024
If, in the first movie, Arthur was the shy, weird loser rejected by all women, now he’s being bamboozled by one.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 4 Oct. 2024
The presence of Good, standing by her man, cast doubt on Jabbari, who is white, and helped create a counter-narrative: that a good Black man had been bamboozled by a conniving white woman.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bamboozle
Darlin Tillery, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Cocker’s lessons covered addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, as well as calculation with pre-decimal British currency and a gentle introduction to 17th-century England’s bamboozling array of weights and measures.
—James Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Dec. 2024
If, in the first movie, Arthur was the shy, weird loser rejected by all women, now he’s being bamboozled by one.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 4 Oct. 2024
The presence of Good, standing by her man, cast doubt on Jabbari, who is white, and helped create a counter-narrative: that a good Black man had been bamboozled by a conniving white woman.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bamboozle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bamboozle
Verb
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Jurors found Peters guilty in August for using someone else’s security badge to give an expert affiliated with My Pillow chief executive Mike Lindell access to the Mesa County election system and deceiving other officials about that person’s identity.—
Colleen Slevin,
Twin Cities,
22 Apr. 2025
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Stribling tried to deceive officers by saying Bailei was shot in a robbery, The Detroit News reported.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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And when the series takes an occasional serious turn, you'll just be confused.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
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However, simply getting older doesn’t equate to consistently missing bills or appointments, having a hard time speaking with people, or feeling lost or confused in places that are familiar to you.—
Alisa Hrustic,
SELF,
1 May 2025
Verb
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Deceptive tactics trick users into providing biometric data unknowingly.—
Mohamed Lazzouni,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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The light from screens can trick your brain into staying awake.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This May, students from across the United States will gather in Washington D.C., for the 100th anniversary of the Scripps Spelling Bee, determined to conquer a spelling system that has baffled us for centuries.—
Gabe Henry,
Time,
15 Apr. 2025
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With a fastball that tops out around 87 mph, Barrett finds other ways to baffle hitters.—
Dave Melton,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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That was probably a terrible decision, in fairness, but Meazza responded by faking a shot to fool a defender, then teed up Piola to score.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
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While the towering shoes may seem intimidating, don’t let their large, often chunky heels fool you: PLatform shoes are among the most comfortable heels in any wardrobe.—
Nina Derwin,
Glamour,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Across the street, her husband Steve, who nursed Molly through her first fight with breast cancer a few years earlier, sits bewildered in the office of their couples therapist.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 Mar. 2025
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Carlie thinks the whole thing is hilarious, and Chelsea remains bewildered by any King Cake Baby obsession.—
Chelsea Brasted,
Axios,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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But there are differences that can leave college fans perplexed, like when productive and highly decorated players tumble down the draft board.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
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This abrupt conclusion to their title reign left many fans perplexed, questioning the logic behind their initial victory.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Earlier this year, Gen Zers were puzzled by a classic millennial fashion staple: 6-inch high heels.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Apr. 2025
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At one point, McKinstry retreated to the dugout frustrated after another puzzling at-bat.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bamboozle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bamboozle. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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