bewilderment

noun

be·​wil·​der·​ment bi-ˈwil-dər-mənt 

bē-

1

: the quality or state of being lost, perplexed, or confused : the quality or state of being bewildered

She stared at them in bewilderment.

2

: a complicated or confusing state or condition : a bewildering tangle or confusion

a bewilderment of streets

Synonyms

• bafflement
• bamboozlement
• befuddlement
• bemusement
• bewilderedness
• confusedness
• confusion
• discombobulation
• distraction
• fog
• head-scratching
• maze [chiefly dialect]
• muddle
• mystification
• perplexity
• puzzlement
• tangle
• whirl

Examples of bewilderment in a Sentence

the slightest change in her daily routine leaves her in complete bewilderment

Recent Examples on the Web

As for that out-of-nowhere, electric guitar-heavy bridge, which shares zero melodic or rhythmic elements with the rest of the song, Jheri curls are still being scratched in bewilderment. —Spin Editors, SPIN, 21 Jan. 2025

There will be still rocky places of frustration and meandering points of bewilderment. —Lydia Price, People.com, 20 Jan. 2025

The exchange took over the internet, with fans reacting with bewilderment, amusement, and really just ran with it, all in good meme-worthy fun. —Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 23 Nov. 2024

Greenland's residents echoed the bewilderment expressed by European leaders Wednesday in response to Trump's statements. —Astha Rajvanshi, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1793, in the meaning defined at sense 1