BEMUSE Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

bemuse

verb

bi-ˈmyüz

Definition of bemuse

as in to interest

to hold the attention of a public that seemed more bemused by the shenanigans of celebrities than by a war being waged half a world away

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to bewilder

to throw into a state of mental uncertainty the stage mishap momentarily bemused the actress

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 bemuse Needless to say, Ben Shelton (who ended up winning the men’s event) and his opponent Karen Khachanov were bemused by the interruption. — Max Gao, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2025 Audiences bemused, delighted, hoodwinked theatrically, hoodwinked for real. — Anne Carson, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2025 Cue a wave of gags in which Hank is bemused by everything from boba to hybrid-car engines to all-gender bathrooms. — Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 4 Aug. 2025 Kylie — who was also in attendance at the taping, appeared utterly bemused by the life-sized re-creation of her children’s drawing. — Toria Sheffield, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bemuse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bemuse

Verb

What interests me most is the possibility of giving doctors another set of highly capable eyes.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026
Follow what interests you without needing to come home with a grand revelation.

— Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of interest

Verb

Many Eagles players were concerned and bewildered by the development.

— Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Latif is conflicted by his double life, bewildered by his doubling of parental responsibilities, constantly trying to think two moves ahead yet always ending up three steps behind.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of bewilder

Verb

Both Heder and Madeley were intrigued by the juxtaposition of Heumann’s desire for movement with her paralysis forcing her to be still.

— Kristen Lopez, IndieWire, 2 Nov. 2026
Now in his 14th season with the NBA, Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum was first intrigued by wine when his wife Elise’s parents gifted the couple a bottle of Merlot while the two were still in college and dating.

— Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of intrigue

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 perplex

Verb

Those copious field reports, sworn affidavits, and telegrams signed, alarmingly, HOOVER, would fascinate, enrage, and unmoor me.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
Amid all the con artists and fraudsters this century has produced, Holmes is the one who fascinates us the most.

— Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of fascinate

Verb

For months, Republicans have suspected that the second Dan Sullivan’s Senate bid was designed to confuse voters as part of a broader scheme allegedly plotted by the Democratic Party to boost Peltola’s chances.

— Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 2 Nov. 2026
The possibility of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe should not be confused with evidence that extraterrestrial beings have visited Earth, Kirkpatrick said.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of confuse

Verb

According to the researchers, formation accounts for roughly one-third of battery production costs and occupies about a quarter of a manufacturing facility’s floor space.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
Gaga’s former penthouse is a corner duplex occupying the top two floors of the building.

— Meg Walters, InStyle, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of occupy

Verb

To me, Neil Simon’s comedy is a masterclass in the architecture of laughter, and I’ve long been baffled that this extraordinary play hasn’t received a major revival in recent years.

— Greg Evans, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026
The latest weakening of criteria is baffling if not unsurprising given the agency’s pitifully weak, unserious leadership.

— Diana Urban, Hartford Courant, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of baffle

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“Bemuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bemuse. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of bemuse

verb

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