as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion
the perennially befuddled professor was always forgetting where she'd left her glasses
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in puzzled
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of befuddled
Alida Becker, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Then Aunt Phoebe joins in the gaslighting, and a befuddled Lydia is ushered away for some dinner.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 13 May 2025
Take a recent episode about cruises, which featured Ben Stiller, Quinta Brunson, and Mulaney’s frequent comedy partner Nick Kroll, along with a befuddled industry expert named Anne Kalosh.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2025
Black co-stars with Day, Dismukes, and Fineman as the befuddled audience members, loudly chiming in from the front row after every line to reply.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for befuddled
Adjective
Inspired by the historical figure known as Lambert Simnel, THE PRETENDER (Knopf, 471 pp., $30) is a rollicking account of a befuddled boy’s pillar-to-post existence as a political pawn.
—Alida Becker, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Then Aunt Phoebe joins in the gaslighting, and a befuddled Lydia is ushered away for some dinner.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 13 May 2025
Take a recent episode about cruises, which featured Ben Stiller, Quinta Brunson, and Mulaney’s frequent comedy partner Nick Kroll, along with a befuddled industry expert named Anne Kalosh.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2025
Black co-stars with Day, Dismukes, and Fineman as the befuddled audience members, loudly chiming in from the front row after every line to reply.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for befuddled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befuddled
Adjective
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This run – and the exhausted, bewildered looks on the players’ faces throughout it – has no doubt shaped Inter’s odds to win away to Barcelona, which look pretty close to long shot territory.—
Sam Tighe,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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In the two years since Tommy Elliott was killed in a mass shooting, Maryanne’s grief has, in turns, left her aghast and overwhelmed, bewildered and incapacitated, grateful and wanting to die.—
Kristina Goetz,
USA Today,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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At some point, Kevin, dazed but not incapacitated, got on the line with a dispatcher.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 July 2025
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In footage shared by local media, he was seen bloodied, dazed and clutching his mobile phone.—
Diaa Hadid,
NPR,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
The moment of truth arrived when Adams FaceTimed Phillips— initially confused and skeptical about her whereabouts.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
25 July 2025
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Ferguson said teammates are more confused than upset.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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Investigators do not suspect drugs or alcohol were involved but are looking into distracted driving as a factor in the crash.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
26 July 2025
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These systems detect behaviors like hard braking or distracted driving and provide real-time alerts.—
Gaurav Sharda,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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Lakeway attorney David Wright, 72, had dizzy spells for years, but none of his doctors found the source.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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During the trek northward, Sanchez-Perez said his nephew started to feel dizzy and fell.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Befuddled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befuddled. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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