1
as in to deceive
to cause to believe what is untrue
bamboozled by con men into buying worthless land in the desert
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to confuse
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
I'm completely bamboozled by the latest changes in the tax code
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bamboozle
Knowles could be key to shutting down an Ohio State that has bamboozled every challenger to date this year, but Saturday’s host is bound to have some tricks up its sleeve in return.
—
Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2025
His new changeup ducked under bats to bamboozle the Mariners’ lefties.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Someone might use their power to bamboozle you.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 5 Aug. 2025
With three full courtyards and mazes of tunnels and buildings, Chillon was brilliantly designed to bamboozle any invaders who managed to enter.
—John Oseid, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bamboozle
Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2025
His new changeup ducked under bats to bamboozle the Mariners’ lefties.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Someone might use their power to bamboozle you.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 5 Aug. 2025
With three full courtyards and mazes of tunnels and buildings, Chillon was brilliantly designed to bamboozle any invaders who managed to enter.
—John Oseid, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bamboozle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bamboozle
Verb
-
Is someone attempting to deceive you?—
Big Think,
Big Think,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Your eyes aren't deceiving you.—
Jessica Farthing,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The California Department of Public Health is urging people to avoid mushroom foraging altogether this year because death cap mushrooms are easily confused with safe, edible varieties.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
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Germany's exact medal count is a point of contention because Germany has not always competed in each Olympics as a unified country, which can lead to confusing medal counts.—
Aliza Chasan,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But a new study suggests that, in certain organs, tumors actively communicate with the brain to trick it into protecting them.—
Jacek Krywko,
Scientific American,
4 Feb. 2026
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Experts say such scam operations in Cambodia and elsewhere have cheated people around the world out of billions of dollars and tricked people from many countries to work in them under slave-like conditions.—
Sakchai Lalit,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Their tactics really baffle their strategy.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
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Homeowners and residents are baffled by the attacks upon their beautiful — but otherwise seemingly useless — plants.—
Tribune News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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These ads may not have fooled as many of us as their makers seemed to think.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Feb. 2026
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And don’t let the utilities and their friends fool you.—
Kendall Keelen,
Hartford Courant,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Oswalt confesses being bewildered by Bamford at first.—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2026
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No matter what the reasons, Belichick, his former Patriots players and NFL fans, are bewildered by the snub.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The moment became viral on social media, with some X users perplexed at the interview.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
11 Feb. 2026
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That’s perplexing to Alvarez and Oakley, given that Cal State tuition is still relatively low, despite recent annual tuition hikes.—
Cal Matters,
Mercury News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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He was puzzled by friends who bought band T-shirts and obsessed over concerts.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
11 Feb. 2026
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Yes, Tuesday night’s concert was also occasionally puzzling in its choices.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bamboozle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bamboozle. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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