baffled 1 of 2

adjective

ˈba-fəld How to pronounce baffled (audio)
Definition of bafflednext
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

baffled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of baffle
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

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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 baffled
Adjective
The Sooners’ uncanny postseason successes leave many baffled. — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026 For 166 years, documents found with this sailor’s remains baffled researchers — until genetics provided an answer. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Verb
They were equally baffled by the aggressive flavorlessness of a Michelob Ultra. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 13 June 2026 Pz’ spends much of his proper debut, No Turning Back, equally baffled by his good fortune and ready to fasten it to his side with a Gucci strap before anyone else can take it. — Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for baffled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baffled
  1. perplexed
  2. frustrated
  3. puzzled
  4. bewildered
  5. hampered
  6. confused
  7. embarrassed
Adjective
  • At the time, 95% of the folks working at our theater were either perplexed or disdainful of this project.
    — Kelly Leonard, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Olivia stops at an exhibit depicting two Minions, James and Henry (all the Minions are voiced by Coffin), and is perplexed when no one present appears to have heard of them, at least by name.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 June 2026
Definition of perplexed
Verb
  • Some women are frustrated, worried they are being left behind.
    — Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • Yet from No Child Left Behind through the push for the Common Core into today’s zeal for science of reading, policy leaders are frustrated that the version of policy that occurs in the classroom does not match their vision.
    — Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of frustrated
Verb
  • Pochettino seemed puzzled by the downcast tone of his post-match press conference.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 June 2026
  • Astronomers are puzzled that such a glaring inconsistency could have gone unnoticed in existing data, such as the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), which provides our earliest snapshot of the universe.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 25 June 2026
Definition of puzzled
Adjective
  • Fido was fine, if a little bewildered, and in February 1973, the board lifted its book bans.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 June 2026
  • At the risk of sounding less like a columnist and more like a bewildered bystander … what the heck happened?
    — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026
Definition of bewildered
Verb
  • Chwalińska took a medical timeout for an ankle injury at the end of the game and was clearly hampered by it for the rest of the match.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • Securing reservations at elite restaurants and bars has become a competitive, multi-billion dollar market, often hampered by bots and fragmented systems.
    — Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of hampered
Verb
  • Narcissism should never be confused with the healthy form of philautia, a unique Greek philosophy of self-love.
    — Gregory Stebbins, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • One workshop is a Mindful Archery class, not to be confused with her other course Meditative Archery, which involves Jungian journaling; and there’s a one-on-one archery session with spiritual guidance.
    — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Definition of confused
Adjective
  • Practically speaking, shoes are an easier, less expensive and fraught acquisition than clothes (few people are embarrassed by their shoe size).
    — Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • Larry David is pretty, pretty, pretty embarrassed right now.
    — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026
Definition of embarrassed

Browse Nearby Words

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baffled
bafflegab
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Cite this Entry

“Baffled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baffled. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on baffled

Nglish: Translation of baffled for Spanish Speakers

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