BAFFLE Synonyms: 145 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'baffle' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of baffle are balk , foil , frustrate , and thwart . While all these words mean "to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal," baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling. // baffled by the maze of rules and regulations

Q: When would 'balk' be a good substitute for 'baffle'?

While in some cases nearly identical to baffle , balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances. // officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime

Q: When can 'foil' be used instead of 'baffle'?

Although the words foil and baffle have much in common, foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort. // foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her

Q: Where would 'frustrate' be a reasonable alternative to 'baffle'?

The synonyms frustrate and baffle are sometimes interchangeable, but frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent. // frustrated attempts at government reform

Q: When is 'thwart' a more appropriate choice than 'baffle'?

The words thwart and baffle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing. // the army thwarted his attempt at a coup

baffle 1 of 2

verb

ˈba-fəl

Definition of baffle next

as in to frustrate

to prevent from achieving a goal the language barrier baffled everyone and discouraged us from attempting another teleconference

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to perplex

to throw into a state of mental uncertainty she was baffled by the wording of the clause in the insurance policy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

baffle

2 of 2

noun

as in fender

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb baffle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of baffle are balk, foil, frustrate, and thwart. While all these words mean "to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal," baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling.

baffled by the maze of rules and regulations

When would balk be a good substitute for baffle?

While in some cases nearly identical to baffle, balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances.

officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime

When can foil be used instead of baffle?

Although the words foil and baffle have much in common, foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort.

foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her

Where would frustrate be a reasonable alternative to baffle?

The synonyms frustrate and baffle are sometimes interchangeable, but frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent.

frustrated attempts at government reform

When is thwart a more appropriate choice than baffle?

The words thwart and baffle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing.

the army thwarted his attempt at a coup

Examples 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 baffle

Verb

Federal and local officials have been baffled, and some are concerned by the reports of mystery drone sightings. —

Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025 Text messages that show Baldoni’s PR team baffled at the response Lively was getting online are also cited in the document, evidence Baldoni and his lawyers say proves that the backlash against Lively wasn’t orchestrated by his PR team and organically caught fire on social media. —

Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 2 Jan. 2025

Noun

One of my favorite features of this bag is the anti-snag zipper, which genuinely doesn't snag, because there's a woven barrier that keeps the down baffle away from the zipper. —

Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2024 As a down duvet insert, it's designed with double-stitched seams and a baffle box construction to keep its fill fluffy and evenly distributed. —

Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 18 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for baffle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for baffle

Verb

The most recent deadline extensions weren’t announced until the day before the vouchers were set to expire, which frustrated him.

— Nora O’Neill, Charlotte Observer, 17 Jan. 2025
And with all the investigative resources and research methods of academia, I have been frustrated by the death of expertise on social media platforms that value high-frequency reactions and often baseless punditry—not rigor.

— Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025