bewildered 1 of 2

adjective

bi-ˈwil-dərd How to pronounce bewildered (audio)
Definition of bewilderednext
as in dazed
suffering from mental confusion the bewildered child wandered aimlessly around the playground

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
They were soon surrounded by a crowd of about 1,000 bewildered villagers, who alerted forest officials patrolling nearby. — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 What appears before the bewildered trio is a boy with a face resembling a frog’s, named Fūsuke. — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 Oct. 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
  1. dazed
  2. puzzled
  3. confused
  4. baffled
  5. stunned
  6. perplexed
  7. distracted
  8. dizzy
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
  • The existence of supermassive black holes before the universe was even 1 billion years old is something that has puzzled astronomers since the JWST started spotting them in 2022.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • All day on Sunday, there seemed to be a back-and-forth of praise from the right, and puzzled outrage on the left.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of puzzled
Adjective
  • The Dolphins’ secondary appeared confused and unprepared for Maye’s throws, which were pinpoint accurate.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The ones who were looked confused but kindly dropped candy into our bags.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of confused
Verb
  • However, having gone through this first season, many are now baffled as to how the algorithm works.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026
  • But, about eight days before the election, when Acker heard that Stevens was thinking about switching her endorsement from El-Sayed to the Republican Senate candidate, Mike Rogers, he was baffled.
    — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of baffled
Adjective
  • That, to my mind, is why Wiles seemed so stunned by the firestorm that erupted when her words appeared in my 10,000-word Vanity Fair series last December.
    — Chris Whipple, Vanity Fair, 10 Nov. 2026
  • The scene is one of many standout moments that left audiences and Fielder himself both stunned and uncomfortable.
    — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of stunned
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
  • Workers in uncomfortable gear can become distracted, struggle through demanding shifts, and lose confidence that their employer takes their safety seriously.
    — Allison Anderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Its opposition to intense Pluto could make a distracted response sting more than expected.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 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

Browse Nearby Words

bewilder
bewildered
bewilderedness
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Cite this Entry

“Bewildered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bewildered. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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