BEWILDERED Synonyms: 113 Similar and Opposite Words

bewildered 1 of 2

adjective

bi-ˈwil-dərd

Definition of bewildered

as in dazed

suffering from mental confusion the bewildered child wandered aimlessly around the playground

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bewildered

2 of 2

verb

past tense of bewilder

as in puzzled

to throw into a state of mental uncertainty the change in policy seems to have bewildered many of our customers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 bewildered

Adjective

What appears before the bewildered trio is a boy with a face resembling a frog’s, named Fūsuke. — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026 But Iñárritu’s caricatures become people in a way Kubrick’s don’t; as the bewildered President, for example, John Goodman is simultaneously grounded and theatrical in his presentation, recalling his best work with the Coen brothers. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026

Verb

Republicans use metaphor to turn unpopular policies into perky catchphrases, leaving Democrats bewildered. — Richard Yanowitch, Mercury News, 29 July 2026 Former Republican state senator Jeff Brandes, who now leads the Florida Policy Project, said he was bewildered by the governor's proposal. — Jim Defede, CBS News, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for bewildered

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bewildered

Adjective

But the man simply stood there with a dazed expression on his face, swaying gently in the living room of their small, cramped flat, like a lone tree in the breeze.

— Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Laiken Randolph appeared dazed, and possibly on drugs, officers remarked.

— Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of dazed

Verb

That the Houthis are able to score hits from 500 miles away, despite the Saudi military spending tens of billions of dollars on multi-layered air defense systems, has puzzled experts.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
He was puzzled when, after 2021, the number of children going into foster care dropped, but the state's costs for child welfare were rising.

— Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of puzzled

Verb

Lucy comes downstairs, baffled by what’s going on as he’s taken away.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
To me, Neil Simon’s comedy is a masterclass in the architecture of laughter, and I’ve long been baffled that this extraordinary play hasn’t received a major revival in recent years.

— Greg Evans, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of baffled

Verb

At Telluride, Fielder, who had initially planned to stay behind the scenes, admitted he was still perplexed by the couple’s openness.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
They were perplexed at first, flummoxed, but pleasant, and unfortunately for them, already long gone from the airport.

— Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of perplexed

Adjective

Its opposition to intense Pluto could make a distracted response sting more than expected.

— Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
Five years earlier my brother had gotten married, leaving me home alone without the buffers of his distracted affection, his big brotherly insouciance, his rebellious indifference to the emotional chasm widening between our parents.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of distracted

Adjective

After receiving the alpha-lipoic acid, Hawrylak felt confused and dizzy.

— D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
To that end, there are questions about whether Mayich and his teammates had access to sufficient water and the degree of attention ASU paid to his initial symptoms, including feeling dizzy.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of dizzy

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bewildered

bewilderedness

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Style

“Bewildered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bewildered. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of bewildered

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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