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

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

And generally, that algorithm does remarkably well at predicting which videos will interest particular users.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026
So, this obsession with efficiency – with the bottom line – doesn’t interest me at all.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 8 July 2026

Definition of interest

Verb

As fans of the comedian know, Ali G is a streetwise interviewer whose hip hop slang often bewilders guests such as Noam Chomsky, Andy Rooney and Newt Gingrich.

— Brent Lang, Variety, 7 July 2026
But these casting decisions are bewildering, to say the least, and will certainly cost the film ticket sales and potential revenue.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of bewilder

Verb

So when Sandra, who wanted to protect her identity for privacy reasons, heard about a new injectable body contouring product last summer, she was intrigued.

— Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 13 July 2026
The Coupr technology, however, intrigued the grocery chain’s president.

— Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026

Definition of intrigue

Verb

Workers at Doherty Staffing Solutions were perplexed when strangers started calling the office in response to recruitment texts — texts the firm never sent.

— Bill Lukitsch, Boston Herald, 13 July 2026
The Wiener Kitchen diners weren’t the only Kansas Citians perplexed by this description.

— Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026

Definition of perplex

Verb

But the skillful way in which they are woven together belies the efforts that went into telling this story, and Lovely Reader, this dedication to quality fascinates me.

— Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Academics have long been fascinated by Messi’s behaviour, particularly his cognitive skills.

— Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 10 July 2026

Definition of fascinate

Verb

The Blazers say a handshake agreement with Mayor Keith Wilson, the city and the county was made in March, and are confused why there has been a shift.

— Jason Quick, New York Times, 20 July 2026
The figure who experiences every prompt to begin the process as a threat rather than a relief has confused the cause with the self.

— Michael Sonnenfeldt, Fortune, 19 July 2026

Definition of confuse

Verb

That convergence is drawing together businesses that once occupied separate corners of the market, from consumer staples companies selling food to biotech firms developing medicines and veterinary providers offering increasingly sophisticated care.

— Elsa Ohlen,Carolin Roth, CNBC, 18 July 2026
Swanson was occupied with the training staff after the game and was unavailable for comment.

— Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026

Definition of occupy

Verb

While Loathe’s baffling compositional choices may jump out first, the album’s most glaring flaw is its production.

— Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 16 July 2026
Meanwhile, McGrew agreed to adjustments, including adding baffles to reduce sound from a attached generator for the tower and replacing tower fencing that incorporated barbed wire with taller, more natural looking fencing.

— Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026

Definition of baffle

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“Bemuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bemuse. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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