as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
an expression of utter bemusement
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Recent Examples of bemusement
Americans have been watching with bemusement the goings-on in New York City, where a new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is promising democratic socialist policies including a plan to open city-run grocery stores.
—
The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
The reaction to her performance from commentators online ranged from bemusement to ridicule, with some observers stating that her opportunity would have come at the expense of a genuinely professional player.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Take the period between 1969 and 1985, when almost half of all matches in the ultimate form of the game lasted five days and finished, to the bemusement of those not invested in the intricacies of Test cricket, in stalemate.
—Paul Newman, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2026
This bemusement reflects the burgeoning industry of instructional card, dice, and board games that sprang up in the late 1700s, partly in response to changing attitudes towards juvenile education outlined early on by the philosopher John Locke a century before.
—JSTOR Daily, 26 Nov. 2025
The series offers Whitford his latest opportunity to express general bemusement with the American political process, this time sporting a bushy white beard, and Whigham his latest opportunity to be an uncouth bull in an otherwise genteel china shop.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
At one point, Gwen prays to Jesus for help, much to the bemusement (and adoration) of Ernesto.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
But Lee is the kind of crusader who inspires more bemusement than admiration from those around him.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Apatow tells the story of walking into Jerry Seinfeld’s apartment circa 1983 and seeing the bemusement on Seinfeld’s face.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
The reaction to her performance from commentators online ranged from bemusement to ridicule, with some observers stating that her opportunity would have come at the expense of a genuinely professional player.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Take the period between 1969 and 1985, when almost half of all matches in the ultimate form of the game lasted five days and finished, to the bemusement of those not invested in the intricacies of Test cricket, in stalemate.
—Paul Newman, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2026
This bemusement reflects the burgeoning industry of instructional card, dice, and board games that sprang up in the late 1700s, partly in response to changing attitudes towards juvenile education outlined early on by the philosopher John Locke a century before.
—JSTOR Daily, 26 Nov. 2025
The series offers Whitford his latest opportunity to express general bemusement with the American political process, this time sporting a bushy white beard, and Whigham his latest opportunity to be an uncouth bull in an otherwise genteel china shop.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
At one point, Gwen prays to Jesus for help, much to the bemusement (and adoration) of Ernesto.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
But Lee is the kind of crusader who inspires more bemusement than admiration from those around him.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Apatow tells the story of walking into Jerry Seinfeld’s apartment circa 1983 and seeing the bemusement on Seinfeld’s face.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bemusement
Noun
-
Thirty-one years after founding the Vans Warped Tour, the pop-punk patriarch is looking at the modern music industry with a mixture of confusion and frustration.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The result is not merely confusion about who is responsible but a gradual weakening of the expectations that make responsibility meaningful at all.—
Deb Roy,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Feb. 2026
-
There will also be a bit of patchy fog.—
Andrew Kozak,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Leon was visibly wary of the government’s arguments, at times tipping into what appeared to be barely contained bewilderment.—
Missy Ryan,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
-
In Caracas, moods fluctuate between skepticism, optimism and bewilderment.—
CNN 9 hr ago,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Its inclusion on the album has long been a cause of bafflement among Bowie fans, not least as it was originally recorded for Hunky Dory.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The Ella McCay trend, originated by a Twitter user named Michael Roberts, began as a tribute born out of simultaneous admiration and bafflement.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
10 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bemusement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bemusement. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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