as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
an expression of utter bemusement
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Recent Examples of bemusement
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bemusement
Noun
-
Constant changes and slow IRS guidance led to widespread confusion and, eventually, abuse that forced the IRS to put a moratorium on claims on September 14, 2023 until August 8, 2024.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
-
So there’s little doubt that the emergence of jumbo-size Messi’s across America’s lawns create more intrigue than confusion, even in a nation where soccer as a whole remains a second-tier sport.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Every leaf, branch, and gust of wind bounces sound waves back to the hunter, creating a deafening acoustic fog.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
19 May 2026
-
When an agent triggers a bad action, ownership often dissolves into a fog of prompts, product decisions and access policies.—
Oleg Malii,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Not out of cruelty but out of bewilderment.—
Daren Smith,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
-
But my bewilderment was genuine.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Internally, the Bulls coaching staff has reached a point of bafflement with the forward.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
But public criticism, questions and bafflement have surrounded the decision to set out from the huts at Frog Lake in the middle of the season’s fiercest storm.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bemusement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bemusement. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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