befuddle

verb

be·​fud·​dle bi-ˈfə-dᵊl 

bē-

befuddled; befuddling; befuddles

transitive verb

1

: to muddle or stupefy with or as if with drink

… befuddled with drink all the time.

—Ellen Glasgow

2

: confuse, perplex

a problem that still befuddles the experts

befuddlement

bi-ˈfə-dᵊl-mənt 

bē-

noun

Synonyms

• addle
• baffle
• bamboozle
• beat
• befog
• bemuse
• bewilder
• buffalo
• confound
• confuse
• discombobulate
• disorient
• flummox
• fox
• fuddle
• get
• gravel
• maze
• muddle
• muddy
• mystify
• perplex
• pose
• puzzle
• vex

Examples of befuddle in a Sentence

most of the applicants were befuddled by the wording of one of the questions on the driving test

Recent Examples on the Web

The Eagles’ most remarkable feature in the Super Bowl was their zero blitzes by the defense, which befuddled three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Patrick Mahomes. —Ben Standig, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025

Schumer and the others who voted yes fear that TikTok will go dark tomorrow and 170 million befuddled and enraged American users will blame them. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2025

The Mars methane mystery has befuddled scientists for years. —Paul Sutter, Space.com, 1 Jan. 2025

Whether that sudden shift befuddled his opponent is unclear, but just 40 seconds later Shang Zhifa was sprawled on the canvas, felled by a vicious right hand. —Charlie Campbell, TIME, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

be- + fuddle

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for befuddle

• cuddle
• huddle
• muddle
• puddle

Kids Definition

befuddle

verb

be·​fud·​dle bi-ˈfəd-ᵊl 

befuddled; befuddling

-ˈfəd-liŋ,

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to dull the senses of with or as if with too much drink : stupefy

2

: confuse sense 1a, perplex

befuddlement

-mənt 

noun