as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
an expression of utter bemusement
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Recent Examples of bemusement
To friends and strangers alike, our unusual authorly posture—two spouses, both with academic backgrounds but neither presently working in academia, teaming up to write a trade book on a literary subject—is a source of bemusement.
—
Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Originally greeted with bemusement, Pratt is now upending the race with early voting underway ahead of the June 2 election.
—Jonathan J. Cooper, Fortune, 13 May 2026
He was given considerable access to the behind-the-scenes activities of the show’s production and to many of its stars and staff, none of whom have much to say beyond expressing bemusement at some of Michaels’ personal quirks and habits or praise for his taste in comedy.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Now a quarter century into a career largely characterized by mystique and a seeming avoidance of the public eye, Atobe has spent the better part of the 2020s slowly opening up, with some bemusement.
—Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
For all those reasons, there has been bemusement at Everton in the past over his relative lack of England recognition.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
His newfound fame has proven to be a great source of both bemusement and validation for Cowan, who has been honing his craft in the background for years.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
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
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
Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Originally greeted with bemusement, Pratt is now upending the race with early voting underway ahead of the June 2 election.
—Jonathan J. Cooper, Fortune, 13 May 2026
He was given considerable access to the behind-the-scenes activities of the show’s production and to many of its stars and staff, none of whom have much to say beyond expressing bemusement at some of Michaels’ personal quirks and habits or praise for his taste in comedy.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Now a quarter century into a career largely characterized by mystique and a seeming avoidance of the public eye, Atobe has spent the better part of the 2020s slowly opening up, with some bemusement.
—Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
For all those reasons, there has been bemusement at Everton in the past over his relative lack of England recognition.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
His newfound fame has proven to be a great source of both bemusement and validation for Cowan, who has been honing his craft in the background for years.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bemusement
Noun
-
The vast range of difficulty and rigor in academic assessment adds confusion for both learners and employers.—
Bryan Penprase,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
The Holii Travel Pill Organizer is compact enough to fit in a car compartment or backpack, and securely separates daily doses of medications in order to avoid any confusion on busy travel days.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
The splashing water captured by the camera is abstracted into a nebulous fog that dissolves the profile of a Parisian bridge in the background.—
Erika Landström,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
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.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Her expressions of bewilderment were easy to see.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
Not out of cruelty but out of bewilderment.—
Daren Smith,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
The result is an incredible repository of vexations, bafflements, witticisms, and brilliancies.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Internally, the Bulls coaching staff has reached a point of bafflement with the forward.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bemusement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bemusement. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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