as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
an expression of utter bemusement
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Recent Examples of bemusement
While not a good show by any stretch of the imagination — and there are many stretches to be made here — the Netflix series does manage to conjure so-bad-its-good bemusement.
—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
18 June 2026
The Professional can certainly be understood as a nonlinear narrative of an artist on the peripheries of music, navigating a world far from home with equal parts amusement and bemusement.
—
Levi Dayan,
Pitchfork,
9 June 2026
To friends and strangers alike, our unusual authorly posture—two spouses, both with academic backgrounds but neither presently working in academia, teaming up to write a trade book on a literary subject—is a source of bemusement.
—
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Originally greeted with bemusement, Pratt is now upending the race with early voting underway ahead of the June 2 election.
—
Jonathan J. Cooper,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
He was given considerable access to the behind-the-scenes activities of the show’s production and to many of its stars and staff, none of whom have much to say beyond expressing bemusement at some of Michaels’ personal quirks and habits or praise for his taste in comedy.
—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
For all those reasons, there has been bemusement at Everton in the past over his relative lack of England recognition.
—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
His newfound fame has proven to be a great source of both bemusement and validation for Cowan, who has been honing his craft in the background for years.
—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Americans have been watching with bemusement the goings-on in New York City, where a new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is promising democratic socialist policies including a plan to open city-run grocery stores.
—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
28 Jan. 2026
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
18 June 2026
The Professional can certainly be understood as a nonlinear narrative of an artist on the peripheries of music, navigating a world far from home with equal parts amusement and bemusement.
—
Levi Dayan,
Pitchfork,
9 June 2026
To friends and strangers alike, our unusual authorly posture—two spouses, both with academic backgrounds but neither presently working in academia, teaming up to write a trade book on a literary subject—is a source of bemusement.
—
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Originally greeted with bemusement, Pratt is now upending the race with early voting underway ahead of the June 2 election.
—
Jonathan J. Cooper,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
He was given considerable access to the behind-the-scenes activities of the show’s production and to many of its stars and staff, none of whom have much to say beyond expressing bemusement at some of Michaels’ personal quirks and habits or praise for his taste in comedy.
—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
For all those reasons, there has been bemusement at Everton in the past over his relative lack of England recognition.
—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
His newfound fame has proven to be a great source of both bemusement and validation for Cowan, who has been honing his craft in the background for years.
—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Americans have been watching with bemusement the goings-on in New York City, where a new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is promising democratic socialist policies including a plan to open city-run grocery stores.
—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bemusement
Noun
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Mercury stations retrograde in Cancer in your 11th House of Friends and Community, bringing old invitations, group-chat confusion, or unclear expectations back into focus.
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In it, the author described a culture of confusion, stress, and incompetence, as contractors competed for work to be completed under near-impossible deadlines.
Noun
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When Ian Happ made the final out of the frame, the umpires convened and called a delay, a rare stoppage because of the fog-shrouded Wrigley Field.
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Dense fog shrouded the Golden Gate Bridge and masked the city's fireworks display.
Noun
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There was bewilderment, also, at the failure of the referee to get any kind of grip or control over the Paraguayan antics.
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And Bericoto, to the bewilderment of everyone, put his head down and started jogging to second, apparently thinking Haase had struck out.
Noun
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The result is an incredible repository of vexations, bafflements, witticisms, and brilliancies.
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Internally, the Bulls coaching staff has reached a point of bafflement with the forward.
Cite this Entry
“Bemusement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bemusement. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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