bewilder 1 of 3

Definition of bewildernext

bewildering

2 of 3

adjective

bewildering

3 of 3

verb (2)

present participle of bewilder

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
Verb
Oswalt confesses being bewildered by Bamford at first. Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 30 Jan. 2026 No matter what the reasons, Belichick, his former Patriots players and NFL fans, are bewildered by the snub. Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The bewildering and unexplained switch over Halligan began when the Bar replied to a complaint against her filed by the nonprofit organization Campaign for Accountability. Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026 The bewildering and unexplained switch over Halligan began when the Bar replied to a complaint against her filed by the nonprofit organization Campaign for Accountability. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
McNutt housed some 700 kids — about one-third of the population of French Lick — and Bird found the campus outside the dormitory walls bewildering. Keith O'Brien, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2026 Even a principled, well-meaning actor like Claude could face bewildering ethical conflicts. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bewilder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bewilder
Adjective
  • And, equally perplexing, why was the moon in America?
    Kathryn Hughes, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
  • The judging is vexing and perplexing.
    Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The renderings of what was shown to Hopewell Township resident Kyle Eaton were a tad baffling.
    Chilekasi Adele, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
  • That lack of curiosity has always been baffling to me.
    Thomas Drance, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Until now, essentially all his comments about the four-week-old war have been contradictory, confusing, or just outright false.
    Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
  • However, following the path of Artemis II may be confusing as the astronauts, mission control and others use confusing jargon and phrases.
    ByMary Kekatos, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Here are seven of the most puzzling plane disappearances in history.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
  • While scientists have long understood the importance of this cloak, one aspect of its biology has remained deeply puzzling.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • In 2021, one year into D’Amaro’s tenure and following COVID shutdowns, Disney did away with FastPass and introduced a confounding and very costly series of pay-to-skip passes, which require timing advanced booking of limited slots in these formerly free-to-enter shorter lines.
    Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The Eagles were a confounding defending champion throughout the regular season.
    Jeff Howe, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The cocktail list includes The Crag OF, a smooth take on an Old Fashioned, and the Irish Exit, a drink inspired by the Irish Maid, with elderflower, fresh lemon and muddled cucumber.
    Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Dinner is preceded by a fireside drinks hour, which gives guests a chance to connect with each other and share highlights from the day’s game drives while sipping cocktails made with muddled herbs (grown on-site, of course).
    Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The delay has been frustrating, given that a large office-retail building in the complex is ready to open, but the facility can’t receive a certificate of occupancy from the city of Lee’s Summit until the intersection work is finished, Brown said.
    Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Now, as a 30-something man who long since had the creativity sapped out of him by life, this was mildly frustrating at first.
    Ian Stokes, Space.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • After Musk’s departure, Amodei and other researchers chafed against the leadership of Brockman, whom some considered an abrasive operator, and of Sutskever, who was generally viewed as principled but disorganized.
    Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Republicans and Democrats criticized the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein release, saying the rollout was disorganized with few effective systems in place to ensure that appropriate redactions were made.
    Perry Stein The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bewilder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bewilder. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

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