as in perplexing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in baffling
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
most of the applicants were befuddled by the wording of one of the questions on the driving test
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befuddling
Adjective
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The apparent identity mix-up is a key point of confusion in a detailed and often perplexing set of allegations that Webb is lodging publicly against Jones and Thao.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
The Mercury News,
2 Feb. 2025 -
Few stories are as perplexing and tragic as that of Mary the elephant.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Researchers are particularly focused on unraveling the puzzling interplay between gas content, magma pressure and lava flow dynamics.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
3 Jan. 2025
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Almost two years into his ordeal, Gould learned of an initiative at the National Institutes of Health that focuses on solving the country’s most puzzling medical cases.—
Jason Liebowitz,
The Atlantic,
2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Americans, and a dismaying number of politicians, keep crying for a crackdown on crimes that aren’t happening.—
F.K. Plous,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2025
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The late President’s priorities were remarkably prescient, and his personal qualities offered a dismaying contrast to so much of the present state of American politics.—
Erin Neil,
The New Yorker,
30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Trump’s sense of his own royalty helps explain at least some of the bewildering changes of recent days.—
Bill McKibben,
The New Yorker,
20 Feb. 2025
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All of the above is being considered in isolation without the bewildering problems of domestic politics and foreign policy.—
David Szondy,
New Atlas,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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My nose and mouth were full of blood, guts and a deep, upsetting warmth.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
Fox News,
27 Feb. 2025
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Therefore, when something upsetting happens, the children’s schedule still stays intact.—
Jann Blackstone,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
This is something incomprehensible to any human being.—
Caitlin McFall,
Fox News,
5 Feb. 2025
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The loss of Oakland’s MLB team and then the city’s greatest MLB son in the same year is an almost incomprehensible loss for fans like Peters, who feel abandoned by the league.—
Melissa Lockard,
The Athletic,
21 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Befuddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befuddling. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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