bamboozle

[bam-boo-zuhl]

verb (used with object)

bamboozled, bamboozling 

1. to deceive or get the better of (someone) by trickery, flattery, or the like; humbug; hoodwink (often followed byinto ).

   They bamboozled us into joining the club.

   Synonyms: fool, mislead, delude, rook, gull, hoax, flimflam, defraud, swindle, cheat, trick, dupe, gyp

2. to perplex; mystify; confound.

   Synonyms: dumbfound, baffle, puzzle, bewilder, befog

verb (used without object)

bamboozled, bamboozling 

1. to practice trickery, deception, cozenage, or the like.

   He has been known to bamboozle, so I don't trust him.

bamboozle

/ bæmˈbuːzəl /

verb

1. to cheat; mislead

2. to confuse

Other Word Forms

• bamboozler noun
• bamboozlement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bamboozle¹

First recorded in 1695–1705; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of bamboozle¹

C18: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Through it all, he kept pitching, bamboozling a shellshocked Brewers lineup that stood no chance.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“At worst, Sable was simply bamboozling the Regional Water Board to meet a critical deadline,” according to the lawsuit.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"I was bamboozled," she says, her eyes wide with shock.

Read more on BBC

As I neared the end, I felt bamboozled because there were at least two massive archways that looked like the finish line, but actually weren’t.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Kennedy has exploited the false perception that he's a liberal Democrat to bamboozle some people into thinking far-right health policies, such as slashing Medicaid, are "moderate" positions.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• befuddle 
• deceive 
• delude 
• dupe 
• hoodwink 
• mystify 
• perplex