befuddled 1 of 2

adjective

bi-ˈfə-dᵊld How to pronounce befuddled (audio)
Definition of befuddlednext
as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion the perennially befuddled professor was always forgetting where she'd left her glasses

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

befuddled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of befuddle
as in baffled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty most of the applicants were befuddled by the wording of one of the questions on the driving test

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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 befuddled
Adjective
Inside, a fuzzy white possum, seduced by cat food, sits, befuddled. — Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026 The befuddled host is left to shake his head as the trio wander off. — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
But behind closed doors, grievances are simmering over programming, budgets, and dueling marketing campaigns that befuddled the American public. — Philip Wang, Time, 29 June 2026 Hardly ten more minutes had passed before Dembélé scored again—this time, cutting inside and stuttering his dribble and then, having befuddled the defense, rolling the ball right past it into an open corner of the goal. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for befuddled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befuddled
  1. bewildered
  2. baffled
  3. dazed
  4. puzzled
  5. confused
  6. perplexed
  7. stunned
  8. distracted
Adjective
  • The Heat awoke Tuesday as the NBA’s only 0-4 team and thoroughly bewildered about how a group that fashioned itself a contender could continue to perform so poorly.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Darren Foote, a fellow veteran who helped organize the festivities, told the BBC that Filer was somewhat bewildered by all the attention.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of bewildered
Verb
  • On a lesser show, Lee would have thrown Dale a meaningful look, baffled that the material world was aligning with the woo-woo.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Beyond being frustrated with the secrecy, locals said they were baffled by the lack of specifics and clarity the stakeholders had about the project, per the records.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of baffled
Adjective
  • But the man simply stood there with a dazed expression on his face, swaying gently in the living room of their small, cramped flat, like a lone tree in the breeze.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Laiken Randolph appeared dazed, and possibly on drugs, officers remarked.
    — Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of dazed
Verb
  • That the Houthis are able to score hits from 500 miles away, despite the Saudi military spending tens of billions of dollars on multi-layered air defense systems, has puzzled experts.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • He was puzzled when, after 2021, the number of children going into foster care dropped, but the state's costs for child welfare were rising.
    — Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of puzzled
Adjective
  • After receiving the alpha-lipoic acid, Hawrylak felt confused and dizzy.
    — D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Their offensive line, which was supposed to be a strength, was confused and overwhelmed by a Wisconsin defense that allowed 41 points to Notre Dame.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of confused
Verb
  • At Telluride, Fielder, who had initially planned to stay behind the scenes, admitted he was still perplexed by the couple’s openness.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • They were perplexed at first, flummoxed, but pleasant, and unfortunately for them, already long gone from the airport.
    — Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of perplexed
Adjective
  • The scene is one of many standout moments that left audiences and Fielder himself both stunned and uncomfortable.
    — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
  • First came the stunned churchgoers surrounding the lifeless body lying under a pew.
    — Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of stunned
Adjective
  • Five years earlier my brother had gotten married, leaving me home alone without the buffers of his distracted affection, his big brotherly insouciance, his rebellious indifference to the emotional chasm widening between our parents.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The operation then went city-wide and focused on speeding, distracted driving, pedestrian and bicycle-related violations, as well as unsafe movements and right-of-way violations.
    — Coleman Petit, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of distracted

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befuddle
befuddled
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Cite this Entry

“Befuddled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befuddled. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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