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

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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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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

Nothing that would interest a musicologist in any serious forensic sense.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 6 July 2026
These are novels about bohemian communities of friends and lovers and artistic collaborators, which is a big part of what interests me about AIDS activism.

— Sarah Schulman, Literary Hub, 29 June 2026

Definition of interest

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

Definition of bewilder

Verb

And Wednesday’s doubleheader — thanks to a Monday rainout that perplexed Counsell — certainly didn’t help the pitching staff.

— Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026
Sometimes those editing swings make sense, like incorporating more social-media posts and group chats, but other times the stylistic choices simply perplex.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 25 June 2026

Definition of perplex

Verb

My children can happily spend 40 minutes walking around a store, fascinated by packaging, choice and conversations with staff.

— Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Its incredible restoration under a charismatic Italian priest, his tragic disappearance and presumed death during the Syrian civil war, and the inspiring interfaith work of the monastery's remaining monks and nuns all fascinated me.

— Emily Feng, NPR, 8 July 2026

Definition of fascinate

Verb

There is a wide open space for Democrats to occupy that territory.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Beneath those practical debates, however, American lawyers have gradually come to understand themselves as occupying two roles simultaneously, as Robert Gordon described.

— Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Definition of occupy

Verb

Grantham said he was baffled by Wall Street banks’ recommendations to buy SpaceX for their clients.

— Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 July 2026
Pz’ spends much of his proper debut, No Turning Back, equally baffled by his good fortune and ready to fasten it to his side with a Gucci strap before anyone else can take it.

— Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 3 July 2026

Definition of baffle

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“Bemuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bemuse. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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