bamboozled
Americanadjective
-
deceived through trickery, flattery, or the like; hoodwinked.
He feels there’s been a cover-up by the manufacturer and it’s his duty to bring it to the attention of a bamboozled public.
-
perplexed, mystified, or confused.
I must have had a very bamboozled look on my face, because she gave me an impatient "What’s your problem, lady?"
verb
Etymology
Origin of bamboozled
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.
Novelties at Mayer am Nussberg that would have bamboozled Keller's ancestors include vegan food, alcohol-free wine -- of which Keller offers four sorts -- and self-service order touchscreens.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
Young adults aren’t confused or bamboozled by the risks they’re taking.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 19, 2025
He has a well-earned reputation among journalists as a perpetual skeptic, someone who refuses to be bamboozled by hype, cope, spin, and anything in between.
From Slate ● Nov. 5, 2025
It has since become clear that Kennedy thoroughly bamboozled Cassidy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2025
“Very clever of you, sir, very clever, I personally would be utterly bamboozled by all those buttons and knobs,” said Dedalus.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
