fuddle

verb

ˈfə-dᵊl How to pronounce fuddle (audio)
Definition of fuddlenext
as in to confuse
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty the hotel staff is completely fuddled by the guest's bizarre requests

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 fuddle In colliding with a new type of animal, a chemical that might once have served to fuddle the wits of pests has been transformed into a glittering lure. — Gareth Cook, Scientific American, 24 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fuddle
  1. confuse
  2. baffle
  3. bewilder
  4. perplex
  5. puzzle
  6. muddle
  7. discombobulate
Verb
  • Nearly all of the 70,000-plus fans in attendance — even the half of the stadium that was wearing Denver Broncos orange — were confused.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Neither party should confuse a vote with a lifetime commitment.
    — Jose M. Muñoz, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of confuse
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 baffle
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 bewilder
Verb
  • Hurley and the Huskies’ bench, perplexed when the Huskies were called for their 13th foul when Michigan only had six, earned their first techinical of the season after assistant Mike Nardi threw his scouting papers on the floor.
    — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 7 Nov. 2026
  • 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
Definition of perplex
Verb
  • But what is puzzling is that the country’s leaders are not acting.
    — Oliver Melton, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2026
  • But doing so means obstructing the inner part of the corona, which harbors the most important processes that underpin the puzzling phenomena of the sun’s upper atmosphere.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of puzzle
Verb
  • Whatever the original intentions, Crystal Lake is shockingly muddled.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The all-or-nothing nature of sports gets muddled with asterisks and different permutations.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of muddle
Verb
  • Hamilton reached base three times and scored in every instance during the Brewers’ 7-4 win on Monday night at American Family Field, using his speed to disrupt — and even discombobulate — the mighty Dodgers.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Those sorts of moments can be discombobulating, even jarring, even for the tough-minded likes of NFL players.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of discombobulate

Browse Nearby Words

fud
fuddle
fuddled
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Cite this Entry

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

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