as in perplexed
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do
baffled viewers didn't know what to make of the strange antics of the talk show host
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in frustrated
to prevent from achieving a goal
the language barrier baffled everyone and discouraged us from attempting another teleconference
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in puzzled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
she was baffled by the wording of the clause in the insurance policy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of baffled
Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Glaser, no doubt like many viewers, seemed a little baffled when the Swift songs dried up, and Idol had to pad out the rest of the episode with songs themed around California.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2026
Not outraged but baffled, curious Kaho tries to find out his hidden message.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
Scientist can’t be blamed for not recognizing the fleshy glob, because Relicanthus daphneae baffled experts for decades, the American Museum of Natural History reports.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026
What’s more, the legislation has no clear path to getting a vote on the House floor, which has left some of its backers even more baffled by the pushback.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026
One outcome — perhaps, a five-point plan While Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and others are actively pursuing diplomacy, Iran and Israel are not interested, and the United States appears baffled and unsteady.
—Daniel Kurtzer, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
One of the best examples of that is phantom limb pain, which for a long time baffled people.
—Margaret Cirino, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
But some children—Hazel, Evan, and, of course, Jude—baffled Lilian.
—Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 18 May 2026
Such an unconventional approach baffled plenty of people, including the show’s musical composer Marvin Hamlisch, who at the time was in high demand in the film industry and halfway to becoming an EGOT.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 18 May 2026
Lewis never did get the opportunity to be a head coach, which baffled many of his former players and former colleagues through the years.
—Staff, Mercury News, 17 May 2026
The senior author of that study seemed as baffled by official reassurances as she, Tufekci added.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Initial responders were baffled.
—Hank Tester, CBS News, 12 May 2026
He is still baffled by the polygamous, fickle nature of American sports fandom.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 11 May 2026
Turner remained baffled why the broadcast giants — ABC, NBC and CBS — hadn't launched cable stations.
—David Folkenflik, NPR, 6 May 2026
His gift is an uncanny ability to solve crimes that leave the LAPD baffled, armed only with the savvy and dry humor reminiscent of the gumshoe detectives of the noir genre.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
For 166 years, documents found with this sailor’s remains baffled researchers — until genetics provided an answer.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Glaser, no doubt like many viewers, seemed a little baffled when the Swift songs dried up, and Idol had to pad out the rest of the episode with songs themed around California.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2026
Not outraged but baffled, curious Kaho tries to find out his hidden message.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
Scientist can’t be blamed for not recognizing the fleshy glob, because Relicanthus daphneae baffled experts for decades, the American Museum of Natural History reports.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026
What’s more, the legislation has no clear path to getting a vote on the House floor, which has left some of its backers even more baffled by the pushback.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026
One outcome — perhaps, a five-point plan While Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and others are actively pursuing diplomacy, Iran and Israel are not interested, and the United States appears baffled and unsteady.
—Daniel Kurtzer, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
One of the best examples of that is phantom limb pain, which for a long time baffled people.
—Margaret Cirino, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
But some children—Hazel, Evan, and, of course, Jude—baffled Lilian.
—Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Verb
They are baffled by filmmakers who do not think more aggressively about sustainability, ownership, and business models around their work.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 18 May 2026
Such an unconventional approach baffled plenty of people, including the show’s musical composer Marvin Hamlisch, who at the time was in high demand in the film industry and halfway to becoming an EGOT.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 18 May 2026
Lewis never did get the opportunity to be a head coach, which baffled many of his former players and former colleagues through the years.
—Staff, Mercury News, 17 May 2026
The senior author of that study seemed as baffled by official reassurances as she, Tufekci added.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Initial responders were baffled.
—Hank Tester, CBS News, 12 May 2026
He is still baffled by the polygamous, fickle nature of American sports fandom.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 11 May 2026
Turner remained baffled why the broadcast giants — ABC, NBC and CBS — hadn't launched cable stations.
—David Folkenflik, NPR, 6 May 2026
His gift is an uncanny ability to solve crimes that leave the LAPD baffled, armed only with the savvy and dry humor reminiscent of the gumshoe detectives of the noir genre.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baffled
Adjective
-
Those watching were perplexed that two people who could play husband and wife — albeit, locked in an abusive relationship — wouldn’t do press in the same room, let alone pose together at the premiere.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
-
For Bogaerts, Severino is the one who leaves him perplexed, the one who has him asking why this guy, of all guys, owns him.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The forward was frustrated, too.—
Jack Leo,
AJC.com,
16 May 2026
-
Many billionaires are frustrated over blue states’ and cities’ attempts to raise taxes on the superrich.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Three cases were reported earlier this week, long after the typical growing season for the mushrooms behind the illnesses, leaving public health officials and mycologists puzzled about why the poisonings have been so widespread and what is causing the trend.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
-
But China has spent more than a year building strategic stockpiles, a move that puzzled many observers at the time and has now paid off.—
Amena Bakr,
semafor.com,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Everyone was so relieved to see how bewildered everyone else was that the feeling in this place was almost festive.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Numerous cryptocurrency novices become bewildered by intricate decals and fluctuating percentages.—
Malana VanTyler,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But most summit speakers treated circularity—a nebulous concept at the best of times—largely as an engineering challenge, one hampered by immature infrastructure, policy gaps and weak economics.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
-
The company is seeking to create a Duchenne gene therapy that is more effective and safer than Sarepta Therapeutics’ Elevidys, which has been hampered by safety concerns, particularly following the deaths of two recipients from liver failure.—
Jason Mast,
STAT,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The company is not to be confused with the music-publishing company of the same name, founded in 2017, the assets of which were recently acquired by Sony Music.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
18 May 2026
-
Cassidy also complained that a new primary system enacted last year confused voters by requiring them to ask for a partisan ballot instead of the all-party primary previously in place.—
Thomas Beaumont,
Fortune,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
The 15-time European Cup winners have been embarrassed in recent weeks by series of unseemly events.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
-
Ashamed and embarrassed, Hepburn became depressed, her penthouse turning into a kind of prison.—
Hadley Hall Meares,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Baffled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baffled. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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