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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Recent Examples of befuddle
Scientists are befuddled by the storm’s hexagonal shape.
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Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Sep. 2024
Instead, similar to Yasmin, he’s almost constantly befuddled that all his rank and access and riches can’t make the commoners like him.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2024
Those commenting on Radford’s video are equally befuddled.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2024
Both parties are facing the same predicament that befuddled Americans before the New Deal.
—Anthony Gregory / Made By History, TIME, 23 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for befuddle 
Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Sep. 2024
Instead, similar to Yasmin, he’s almost constantly befuddled that all his rank and access and riches can’t make the commoners like him.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2024
Those commenting on Radford’s video are equally befuddled.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2024
Both parties are facing the same predicament that befuddled Americans before the New Deal.
—Anthony Gregory / Made By History, TIME, 23 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for befuddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befuddle
Verb
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Americans and Brits, being less royalist and more empirical in temperament, are bewildered by the general French understanding that the top thinker is supposed to be imperious and maximalist.Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
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She remains moved by a frank conversation with a boat captain in Copenhagen who was bewildered about people in the US having registries for honeymoons and also births.Rosie Bell, WIRED, 22 Sep. 2024
Verb
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As a nearly life-long Democrat from a fifth-generation Kansas family farm, a family of Trump supporters, and married to a self-professed, ultra-MAGA Trumper, I’m perplexed.Ted Trimpa, The Denver Post, 12 Nov. 2024
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They were perplexed, but their relationship with their son was already rocky.Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2024
Verb
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The team wants Alex Mill to be more of a household name brand without getting too big to manage properly, or so expansive as to confuse the customer with many fashion messages.David Moin, WWD, 18 Nov. 2024
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San Francisco sued Oakland for infringing its airport’s trademarks in April, arguing the Oakland airport’s similar new name would confuse travelers.Reuters, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Verb
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As China threatened to retaliate with tariffs on imports of German cars, Berlin turned on Brussels and voted against the measures—a move that left many European policymakers baffled.Agathe Demarais, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2024
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Lambert’s friend Kilcullen remains baffled that the judge keeps delaying the sentencing hearings.Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Yet many observers have been puzzled by the absence of any practical Israeli plan for ending the conflict, particularly one that might lead to a lasting political settlement.Mohanad Hage Ali, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2024
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German carmakers bet big on the EV revolution, if later than competitors, and have been left puzzled by slowing growth after initial widespread uptake.BYRyan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 23 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near befuddle
Cite this Entry
“Befuddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befuddle. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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