1
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
2
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
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
-
Make new friends or join a club that interests you.—
Garfield Hylton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 June 2026
-
What interested him was the gap between the performance of power and whatever lives underneath it.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
For three years straight, he’s kept up a pace that bewilders the industry’s leading comics.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
17 June 2026
-
The narrator and his wife find that their attachment to the charismatic and cryptic Chibi grows with the cat’s increasing visits, in a way that bewilders them but somehow bonds them closer together.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
But beyond his formal classes, what intrigued Roelker most were computers, particularly hacking.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
22 June 2026
-
With names such as Ulta Beauty, OPI, Joico, and Kentucky Fried Chicken onboard, Warner Bros Global Partnerships’ aim for the campaign is to sell the edgy aspect of the DC-verse, while creating zeitgeist moments that would intrigue young women and families.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
Verb
-
But there were also perplexing moments that punctured the gravitas of the event (even for an event built around hand-to-hand combat).—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
-
Aryna Sabalenka being asked to dance after defeating Naomi Osaka in the French Open has one former American tennis star perplexed.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Part of what fascinated me about their presentation was not only their refusal to kowtow to male desire, which for decades had a stranglehold on rock aesthetics, but a concomitant disavowal of commercialism.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
-
Princess Kate, 44, previously revealed that all of her children are fascinated by planes and other aircraft.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
So The Listeners — not to be confused with 2022’s The Listener starring Tessa Thompson and you in a voice role — is just now reaching the States.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
20 June 2026
-
Why The Market Misprices Good Companies Investors often confuse business quality with investment quality.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
The cabana frame was lifted by strong winds before crashing into an area occupied by guests near the resort's pool deck.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
-
Law enforcement also linked Sanchez-Munoz to a June 11 shooting in which a vehicle occupied by an adult and a child was hit by gunfire in the area of Seventh Street and Metropolitan Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
23 June 2026
Verb
-
The Illinois numbers, especially this year’s, are baffling experts.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
-
Using humane methods like squirrel baffles and tree nets can effectively keep squirrels out of your fruit trees.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bemuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bemuse. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
