Synonym Chooser

How does the verb bewilder differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bewilder are confound, distract, dumbfound, nonplus, perplex, and puzzle. While all these words mean "to baffle and disturb mentally," bewilder stresses a confusion of mind that hampers clear and decisive thinking.

a bewildering number of possibilities

Where would confound be a reasonable alternative to bewilder?

The meanings of confound and bewilder largely overlap; however, confound implies temporary mental paralysis caused by astonishment or profound abasement.

the tragic news confounded us all

When would distract be a good substitute for bewilder?

In some situations, the words distract and bewilder are roughly equivalent. However, distract implies agitation or uncertainty induced by conflicting preoccupations or interests.

distracted by personal problems

When might dumbfound be a better fit than bewilder?

While the synonyms dumbfound and bewilder are close in meaning, dumbfound suggests intense but momentary confounding; often the idea of astonishment is so stressed that it becomes a near synonym of astound.

was at first too dumbfounded to reply

When is it sensible to use nonplus instead of bewilder?

Although the words nonplus and bewilder have much in common, nonplus implies a bafflement that makes orderly planning or deciding impossible.

the remark left us utterly nonplussed

When can perplex be used instead of bewilder?

The synonyms perplex and bewilder are sometimes interchangeable, but perplex adds a suggestion of worry and uncertainty especially about making a necessary decision.

a behavior that perplexed her friends

In what contexts can puzzle take the place of bewilder?

The words puzzle and bewilder can be used in similar contexts, but puzzle implies existence of a problem difficult to solve.

the persistent fever puzzled the doctor

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 bewilder Wednesday confronts Bianca, who is bewildered about her Siren-song not sticking; Wednesday is taking control of things now and Bianca needs to trust her. Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025 Its ginormous investments in higher-value, tech-heavy sectors from smartphones to autos to semiconductors to biotechnology are disrupting the global landscape at bewildering speed. William Pesek, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025 No decision was made without Landy’s approval, leaving Mason bewildered and frustrated. Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2025 Wedged in the far southeastern corner of the bottom of the continent, between South Africa and Mozambique, Eswatini is the last absolute monarchy in Africa, a status that bewilders modernizers and beguiles traditionalists. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bewilder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bewilder
Verb
  • Tutu Atwell’s role is perplexing Every fan base has some trademark bits.
    Nate Atkins, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Taylor is accustomed to playing forceful characters who have perplexing emotions about motherhood, and in A Thousand and One, Taylor earned her stripes as a performer and acclaim.
    Essence, Essence, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Crotz was initially confused as to why Kjartan had closed himself inside.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
  • CarShield has received positive comments for its breadth of coverage and quick response times, although some policyholders have complained about claim denials, fine-print surprises and confusing sales practices.
    Brian Sloan, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But the rhetoric has baffled Democrats, who see ER payments as effective and noncontroversial and are unwilling to disavow it.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Fans in the surrounding section can be heard in shock, baffled that the man gave away such a coveted possession.
    Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The observations detected a puzzling event as the planet transitioned from a steady accretion rate in April and May to a burst of growth between June and August.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Reports surfaced claiming that WWE was puzzled by such a low grade, followed by rumors that the company pushed to have Hale fired from his position at ESPN.
    Fernando Quiles Jr, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bewilder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bewilder. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on bewilder

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!