as in to bewilder
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
most of the applicants were befuddled by the wording of one of the questions on the driving test
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of befuddle
During a period of apocalyptic turmoil, Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a teacher, and his ex-wife, Felicia (Karen Gillan), a nurse, are befuddled by the proliferation of numerous billboards, advertisements and TV ads thanking Charles Krantz — Chuck — for 39 great years.
—
Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 6 June 2025
While that record was enabled by the spectacle of some befuddling late escapes, it also was achieved despite pivotal offensive injuries and, well, personnel miscalculations.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2025
Cameron Lindsay, a former federal prison warden, was befuddled that Massey was locked in a first-floor cell of the facility, saying that his past warranted far more attention from corrections staff.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 29 May 2025
Although you might be temporarily befuddled and overwhelmed, nothing will get in your way.
—Liz Simmons, StyleCaster, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for befuddle
Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 6 June 2025
While that record was enabled by the spectacle of some befuddling late escapes, it also was achieved despite pivotal offensive injuries and, well, personnel miscalculations.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2025
Cameron Lindsay, a former federal prison warden, was befuddled that Massey was locked in a first-floor cell of the facility, saying that his past warranted far more attention from corrections staff.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 29 May 2025
Although you might be temporarily befuddled and overwhelmed, nothing will get in your way.
—Liz Simmons, StyleCaster, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for befuddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befuddle
Verb
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Still, my friends and I, specifically those who were teen-agers or older at the time of 9/11, have been bewildered by the Islamophobia of the moment, which feels especially vintage and plainspoken, not massaged into obfuscatory rhetoric or angling for any greater point.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
13 July 2025
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In the moment, Kyle looked bewildered that the musician had singled him out, smiling with his mouth open in shock.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
20 May 2025
Verb
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At the time, I was perplexed and questioned if this was necessary.—
Susan Horava,
Health,
24 June 2025
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Ultimately, the remaining Islanders dumped Jeremiah and Hannah, a controversial move that left viewers at home perplexed as to why this decision was made.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
23 June 2025
Verb
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By 1915, scientists unearthed 2 million bones of large animals from La Brea, and a pattern emerged that both excited and confused them: too many predators.—
Ian Rose,
JSTOR Daily,
23 July 2025
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Two people can deliver the same message, but their delivery style can make the difference between motivating and confusing a team.—
Kendra MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Verb
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Money terms and concepts continue to baffle people, many of whom are seeking answers through online searches.—
Russ Wiles,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
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Even with the other guys' admonitions not to, under any circumstances, be themselves, Dee and Charlie's improbable success in charming these scions of the Philly upper crust had the guys — and us — both baffled and anxiously awaiting an ugly twist.—
Dennis Perkins,
EW.com,
10 July 2025
Verb
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One especially puzzling discovery is shown in a narrow closet.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
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Another puzzling question was what to do with the long, narrow goat stable.—
Aileen Weintraub,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Befuddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befuddle. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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