flummoxed

verb

Definition of flummoxednext
past tense of flummox
as in baffled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty an actor who's easily flummoxed by any changes in the script

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 flummoxed Kansas City's collapse began with another flag on Moore earlier in the fourth quarter and a peculiar move by the officials that left the Chiefs and their fans flummoxed. — ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026 Along the way, the grills the likes of Michael Bay and Benedict Cumberbatch, so much so they are left flummoxed. — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Nov. 2026 Police began showing up, flummoxed in the face of an irate attorney, indifferent third-party technicians, and insensate machines. — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Cromar told me that even people in his field—which is to say, the most sophisticated consumers of this sort of information—may be flummoxed by the range of AQI reports. — Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026 Harry Kane sparked the counter with a long pass that left the Argentina defense flummoxed for the first time all game. — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2026 The Celtics were flummoxed by Robinson during the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals. — Tom Rende, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Christian Petersen / Getty Images San Antonio’s defense once again flummoxed the Thunder. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 29 May 2026 Defensive struggles against the Joel Embiid/Tyrese Maxey pick-and-roll, which has flummoxed Boston’s bigs since Embiid’s mid-series return. — Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flummoxed
  1. baffled
  2. puzzled
  3. perplexed
  4. confused
  5. bewildered
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
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
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
Verb
  • The ballot paper was a large sheet, and I was confused by the plethora of party symbols printed on it.
    — Sonia Gandhi, Vanity Fair, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Critics have praised the book’s dark humor, though some have been confused by its elusive narrative.
    — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of confused
Verb
  • Many Eagles players were concerned and bewildered by the development.
    — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Latif is conflicted by his double life, bewildered by his doubling of parental responsibilities, constantly trying to think two moves ahead yet always ending up three steps behind.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of bewildered

Browse Nearby Words

flummox
flummoxed
flummoxes
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Cite this Entry

“Flummoxed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flummoxed. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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