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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to bewilder

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

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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 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

Hurley and the Huskies’ bench, perplexed when the Huskies were called for their 13th foul when Michigan only had six, earned their first techinical of the season after assistant Mike Nardi threw his scouting papers on the floor.

— Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 7 Nov. 2026
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

Definition of perplex

Verb

Marcin Kierwiński, Poland's interior minister, said there were indications the suspect was fascinated by far-right ideology, according to Reuters.

— Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026
Was that something that that fascinated you, creating a story where the main characters don’t actually understand each other?

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of fascinate

Verb

The structure was fully occupied by residents, and workers were in the construction pit performing excavation work at the time of the collapse.

— Christina Fan, CBS News, 12 Nov. 2026
Opened in 2021 and occupying 10 floors of a 58-floor high rise (the third tallest in the city), its 153 rooms are elegant but comfortable.

— Wendy O'Dea, Robb Report, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of occupy

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“Bemuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bemuse. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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