Synonyms

flummoxed

American

[fluhm-uhkst] / ˈflʌm əkst /

adjective

Informal. utterly bewildered, confused, or puzzled.

When I walk into a store to buy video equipment and see the multitude of options, I’m befuddled and flummoxed.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of flummox.

Etymology

Origin of flummoxed

First recorded in 1835–40; flummox ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) flummoxed for def. 1, and flummox ( def. ) + -ed ¹ flummoxed for def. 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It is unclear what role, if any, the people may have played in Guthrie’s disappearance, which has flummoxed investigators for almost two weeks.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2026

It’s a question that completely flummoxed Michael Glasheen, the FBI’s branch and operations director, last week when he was testifying before the House Committee on Homeland Security.

From Salon • Dec. 21, 2025

The U.S. economy is expected to grow by 1.8% this year, notwithstanding policy shifts that have flummoxed economists and business leaders.

From Barron's • Dec. 11, 2025

They flummoxed the Dodgers’ pitching staff with their resilient, contact-first offensive attack that appeared to come out of another era.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 2, 2025

I never really told either of them too much about last summer, which is reflected in both of their flummoxed faces.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023