befuddled

American  

[bih-fuhd-ld] / bɪˈfʌd ld /

adjective

1. confused or muddled.

   They claim this is the prevailing economic theory, taught in the best schools, and that I am a hopelessly befuddled fool for questioning it.

2. puzzled or perplexed.

   People often ask us—usually with a befuddled look on their face—"Why on earth are you doing this?"

3. stupidly drunk.

   I don't think he's sobered up at all—in fact, he looks almost frighteningly befuddled and out of it.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of befuddle.

Etymology

Origin of befuddled

First recorded in 1830–40; befuddle + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; befuddle + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

He wore a befuddled expression and sputtered at his bloodied nightshirt.

From Literature

Usually, Clara’s charmed men were befuddled more than anything else, and only with effort.

From Literature

It's also about the players he has confused and bewildered with his ill-fitting shape and the ideology he refuses to alter no matter how befuddled things become.

From BBC

Amorim tinkered his system once more to try and turn the tide, but his substitution of Casemiro left the Brazilian befuddled.

From Barron's

He’s increasingly befuddled, an embarrassment to her, eventually a danger to himself.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• baffled
• bewildered