as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion
new federal regulations that the easily bemused should make no attempt to read and understand
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in intrigued
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in puzzled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the stage mishap momentarily bemused the actress
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bemused
Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2025
The photo showed an A4-sized printout of a cat's face, looking slightly bemused.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 1 Feb. 2025
Chiara applies lessons from her father’s art to her own career — testing the bemused tolerance of her famous, now aged screen-idol mother.
—Armond White, National Review, 14 Feb. 2025
Kelly’s rant on X prompted a rather bemused response from the original show’s star, Melissa Gilbert, who played a young version of author Laura Ingalls Wilder on the show, which ran on NBC from 1974 to 1983.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 2 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bemused
Adjective
Americanah, though lighter fare, is also a book of characters and ideas — a romance as well as a bemused meditation on American notions of racial identity.
—Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2025
The photo showed an A4-sized printout of a cat's face, looking slightly bemused.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 1 Feb. 2025
Chiara applies lessons from her father’s art to her own career — testing the bemused tolerance of her famous, now aged screen-idol mother.
—Armond White, National Review, 14 Feb. 2025
Kelly’s rant on X prompted a rather bemused response from the original show’s star, Melissa Gilbert, who played a young version of author Laura Ingalls Wilder on the show, which ran on NBC from 1974 to 1983.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 2 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bemused
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bemused
Adjective
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Apart from the odd bewildered tourist or local going about their day, the vast majority of people in the carriage were heading to what most regarded as a ‘must-win’ match at home to Everton and the vibe, like the team’s results in 2025, was mixed.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
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Every lap felt like a mind-numbing carousel ride through car exhaust and past bewildered pedestrians, while inhaling burrito-scented air.—
Marley Dickinson,
Outside Online,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Ravens would have to be intrigued if Banks falls in the mid-20s.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
-
Traded by the Angels and non-tendered by Atlanta, Canning signed with the Mets because he was intrigued by their successful major-league development of starters last season.—
Tim Britton,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The feeling in the crowd was a kind of dazed submission.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
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While fielding applause at her Symphony Center show on Friday, harpist Brandee Younger made a dazed confession.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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If readers are confused, consider yet again that Instagram could claim all of 30 million users when its acquisition was announced.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Those who lost their Medicaid health care reported being unaware or confused about how to report work hours.—
Phil Galewitz,
NPR,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Check out Pima Air & Space Museum For those fascinated by astronomy and aerospace, the Pima Air & Space Museum is an essential stop along Tucson’s Astro Trail.—
Visit Tucson,
AFAR Media,
20 Mar. 2025
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Friendship stores selling specialty foodstuffs, silks, and Maoist tchotchkes emerged to meet demand from both Chinese immigrants seeking familiar comforts and Americans fascinated by the exotic wares.—
Mark Tseng-Putterman / Made by History,
TIME,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
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To get the funding reinstated, federal agencies directed Columbia to take a series of steps, including to expel or issue multi-year suspensions to student activists who occupied a campus building.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2025
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No filmmaker was better-equipped to capture the institutional failures of our economic collapse in 2007-08, as Soderbergh has always been pre-occupied by the alienating relationship between our economic systems and his characters.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Even internal morale can take a hit when leadership appears distracted or unstable.—
David Centeno,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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June fills in her friend on Mayday's plan to come back, kill the distracted commanders, and free all the girls.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But by night, Robert immersed himself in a private version of Infinity tricked out to mimic his favorite Star Trek-like TV show and played all-powerful commander to a team of sentient, captive—and miserable—clones of Walton and other co-workers.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
10 Apr. 2025
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Based on their findings, the authors recommend pouring hot water over your coffee grounds slowly to give the beans more time immersed in the water.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bemused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bemused. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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