befuddle
verb
be·fud·dle
bi-ˈfə-dᵊl 
bē-
befuddled; befuddling; befuddles
1
: to muddle or stupefy with or as if with drink
… befuddled with drink all the time.—
Ellen Glasgow
Ellen GlasgowExamples of befuddle in a Sentence
most of the applicants were befuddled by the wording of one of the questions on the driving test
Recent Examples on the Web
The sudden shake-up of GMA hosts has befuddled fans.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
The stock comeback of the last two months has perplexed many investors, who remain befuddled by the market's insistence to look past conflict, tariffs and major challenges to the economic outlook, to make short work of recovering losses from their April lows.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 20 June 2025
Nearly a decade later, the Yankees are left puzzled or befuddled by the cold spell which coincides with Giancarlo Stanton’s first two games after injuries to tendons in both elbows cost him the first 70 games.
—Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
The mix of the slow-motion roll of the ball with the studs of his right boot to befuddle poor Axel Disasi and the thunderous power of the left-foot finish past the head of Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was pure poetry.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 2 June 2025
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Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
The stock comeback of the last two months has perplexed many investors, who remain befuddled by the market's insistence to look past conflict, tariffs and major challenges to the economic outlook, to make short work of recovering losses from their April lows.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 20 June 2025
Nearly a decade later, the Yankees are left puzzled or befuddled by the cold spell which coincides with Giancarlo Stanton’s first two games after injuries to tendons in both elbows cost him the first 70 games.
—Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
The mix of the slow-motion roll of the ball with the studs of his right boot to befuddle poor Axel Disasi and the thunderous power of the left-foot finish past the head of Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was pure poetry.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for befuddle
Cite this Entry
“Befuddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/befuddle. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
befuddle
verb
be·fud·dle
bi-ˈfəd-ᵊl
befuddled; befuddling
-ˈfəd-liŋ,
-ᵊl-iŋ
1
: to dull the senses of with or as if with too much drink : stupefy
2
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