as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion
the perennially befuddled professor was always forgetting where she'd left her glasses
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in puzzled
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
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Recent Examples of befuddled
Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 12 Dec. 2024
The animals are found in unnatural positions and drained entirely of blood by befuddled ranchers in Minnesota, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Oregon and elsewhere.
Sgt.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 28 Nov. 2024
My friends were confused by my abrupt stop and the frightened and befuddled look on my face — except for one, whose eyes were also bulging wide.
—Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 31 Oct. 2024
After intermission, Davis becomes Poirot, while Hendrickson takes on the role of somewhat befuddled wingman in Arthur Hastings.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 13 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for befuddled
Adjective
Despite constantly seeing that defense this season, Shanahan looked downright befuddled against it.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 12 Dec. 2024
The animals are found in unnatural positions and drained entirely of blood by befuddled ranchers in Minnesota, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Oregon and elsewhere.
Sgt.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 28 Nov. 2024
My friends were confused by my abrupt stop and the frightened and befuddled look on my face — except for one, whose eyes were also bulging wide.
—Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 31 Oct. 2024
After intermission, Davis becomes Poirot, while Hendrickson takes on the role of somewhat befuddled wingman in Arthur Hastings.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 13 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for befuddled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befuddled
Adjective
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The actor—who is also currently filming season three of Euphoria—took the time to walk the wide-eyed and probably quite bewildered pup around the carpeted front of the hotel, and looked chic doing it.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
7 May 2025
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Heyman then handed the chair to a bewildered Roman Reigns, who used it to strike downed CM Punk.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The museum show did happen — though some of what’s in it is fabricated, including a few fake ads for Apple and Absolut Vodka that the band very much did not shoot — but everyone in attendance seems a little dazed and confused about it, including the band.—
Alissa Wilkinson,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
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Once Connor Brown deposited the puck into the empty Los Angeles net and rejoiced, the Kings milled about the ice in a dazed and confused state.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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Pew found 55% of Republicans are confused about the information out there on climate change--but this was also true for 39% of Democrats.—
Robert G. Eccles,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
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The two ‘deals’ have left tariff policy more confused than ever, argues columnist Michael Hiltzik.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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Follow the rules of the road—and stay off your phone - Stick to speed limits, obey traffic signals, and never drive distracted.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 May 2025
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That was a possible sign of fatigue or distracted driving, some experts told CBS Austin — a problem that truckers told The Hill is endemic across an industry that pushes them to work around the clock.—
Saul Elbein,
The Hill,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The memes alone can send anyone into a dizzy state.—
Lisa Stardust,
Refinery29,
16 May 2025
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Unaware of a bee allergy, Ryan became disoriented, dizzy, and eventually passed out.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
10 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Befuddled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befuddled. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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