bewilderment

noun

be·​wil·​der·​ment bi-ˈwil-dər-mənt How to pronounce bewilderment (audio)
bē-
Synonyms of bewildermentnext
1
: the quality or state of being lost, perplexed, or confused : the quality or state of being bewildered
She stared at them in bewilderment.
2
: a complicated or confusing state or condition : a bewildering tangle or confusion
a bewilderment of streets

Examples of bewilderment in a Sentence

the slightest change in her daily routine leaves her in complete bewilderment
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Not out of cruelty but out of bewilderment. Daren Smith, IndieWire, 13 May 2026 But my bewilderment was genuine. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 11 May 2026 There were more bad optics in the sixth inning when Vitello went to the mound to make a pitching change and the Giants bullpen was a den of confusion, with right-hander JT Brubaker and bullpen coach Jesse Chavez both raising their arms in bewilderment. Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 10 May 2026 Not so for Siri Hustvedt, whose shattering and beautiful new memoir mirrors, in fragmented structure, the broken bewilderment of grief. Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bewilderment

Word History

First Known Use

1793, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bewilderment was in 1793

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bewilderment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bewilderment. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on bewilderment

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster