bedazzle

American  

[bih-daz-uhl] / bɪˈdæz əl /

verb (used with object)

bedazzled, bedazzling

1. to impress forcefully, especially so as to make oblivious to faults or shortcomings.

   Audiences were bedazzled by her charm.

   Synonyms:

   captivate, enchant, flabbergast, overwhelm, astound, dazzle

2. to dazzle so as to blind or confuse.

   The glare of the headlights bedazzled him.

   Synonyms:

   fluster, befuddle, blind, disconcert, bewilder, daze

3. to adorn with features that are brilliant, sparkly, splendid, etc..

   You don’t need to bedazzle your business card with glitter, but does it stand out from the crowd?

   Both the wealthy and the common flapper could bedazzle themselves in the popular long necklaces of the day.

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bedazzle British  

/ bɪˈdæzəl /

verb

1. (tr) to dazzle or confuse, as with brilliance

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Other Word Forms

• bedazzlement noun
• bedazzlingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of bedazzle

First recorded in 1590–1600; be- + dazzle

Example Sentences

Especially the marvelous starry seed heads of A. christophii and A. schubertii that are durable enough to bedazzle the garden all summer.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 12, 2022

It's an unexpectedly sentimental exercise to take stock of how you bedazzle, spice, umami and sweeten your eating life — almost like paging through old photo albums.

From Salon • Aug. 14, 2022

You don’t need to bedazzle your calendar with “steady” plans.

From Washington Post • Mar. 16, 2022

There are dozens of other such reincarnations, and they simultaneously bedazzle and befuddle.

From New York Times • Jan. 7, 2022

Last spring, Bubbe helped me bedazzle my purple cape.

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan