bemused 1 of 2

adjective

bi-ˈmyüzd How to pronounce bemused (audio)
Definition of bemusednext
as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion new federal regulations that the easily bemused should make no attempt to read and understand

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bemused

2 of 2

verb

past tense of bemuse
1
as in intrigued
to hold the attention of a public that seemed more bemused by the shenanigans of celebrities than by a war being waged half a world away

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in puzzled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty the stage mishap momentarily bemused the actress

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bemused
Adjective
Then came the World Cup, and for a month, a curious if somewhat bemused country sampled the world’s game up close. — Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026 Sweetest children, Granny said, sounding bemused. — Audrey Schmidt, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
Verb
Herrington, once bemused by how cultlike the principles seemed, now views them as an indispensable guide for culture at Amazon—and one that’s stood the test of time and will continue to do so. — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2026 Needless to say, Ben Shelton (who ended up winning the men’s event) and his opponent Karen Khachanov were bemused by the interruption. — Max Gao, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bemused
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bemused
  1. bewildered
  2. intrigued
  3. puzzled
  4. dazed
  5. interested
  6. baffled
  7. confused
  8. fascinated
Adjective
  • In a little corner of my mind, however, history will always mean the tragic smashing of individual lives by its cruel hands and the scattering of bewildered people reeling from its blows.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 July 2026
  • Away from the bewildered rancher calling out in surprise, away from the Appaloosa.
    — Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
Definition of bewildered
Verb
  • The possibility of this partnership intrigued football folks everywhere.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 28 July 2026
  • Matthews and his team were intrigued by how this mechanism works, but realized that using air sacs to regulate buoyancy while diving presents a problem.
    — Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 23 July 2026
Definition of intrigued
Verb
  • When casting director Nancy Nayor was young, her parents were puzzled by her entertainment choices.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 16 July 2026
  • First, Miguel is puzzled when Chuy and his parents, Rosalío (Fernando Cuautl) and Margarita (Leidi Gutiérrez), abruptly leave town without warning.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 July 2026
Definition of puzzled
Adjective
  • Grutman approaches Hart’s character, who is on the ground dazed and disheveled from a wild night out.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026
  • The Jayhawks appeared dazed after falling behind 10-1 early before 3,192 enthusiastic fans.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
Definition of dazed
Verb
  • Camerlenghi says Gradara Castle has interested him since his childhood.
    — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2026
  • What interested him was the gap between the performance of power and whatever lives underneath it.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 June 2026
Definition of interested
Verb
  • The news conference that followed left some economists baffled.
    — Matt Peterson, CNBC, 30 July 2026
  • Another passerby was baffled by how empty the corner now looks.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
Definition of baffled
Adjective
  • Instead, the calls were about, for example, a homeless person who fell asleep in a store, a person who seemed confused in a public park, and someone who was yelling at passersby on the street.
    — Scott Maucione, NPR, 27 July 2026
  • These are questions to raise confidence levels among United fans, rather than confused eyebrows.
    — Carl Anka, New York Times, 25 July 2026
Definition of confused
Verb
  • One thing people are fascinated by is the relationships between women in WWE.
    — Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 31 July 2026
  • He had long been fascinated by historical fiction, but had never had the opportunity to create a work of his own.
    — William Jones, USA Today, 30 July 2026
Definition of fascinated

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Cite this Entry

“Bemused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bemused. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of bemused for Spanish Speakers

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