befuddle

[bih-fuhd-l]

See more synonyms for befuddle on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), be·fud·dled, be·fud·dling.

to confuse, as with glib statements or arguments: politicians befuddling the public with campaign promises.
to make stupidly drunk.

Origin of befuddle

First recorded in 1885–90; be- + fuddle

Related formsbe·fud·dler, nounbe·fud·dle·ment, noun

Synonyms

See more synonyms for befuddle on Thesaurus.com

1. perplex, bewilder, baffle, daze, muddle.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for befuddled

Contemporary Examples

The ruins of an ancient town deep in the Kenyan forest have befuddled archaeologists and historians for decades.
Kenya Has Its Own Machu Picchu—the Lost Town of Gedi
Nina Strochlic
September 18, 2014
Confusion over the catcher's eye black is just the tip of the iceberg for this befuddled limey.
Viral Video of the Day: Bad British MLB Commentary
Alex Chancey, Ben Teitelbaum
May 7, 2014
Taken aback, toothpaste dribbling down my chin, I stood there befuddled, not quite sure what to do next.
Can a Jew Get Down With Hot Jesus from 'Son of God?'
Sara Lieberman
March 9, 2014
Silas then locked a befuddled Stefan in the safe meant for himself and dropped it into the river.
The 9 Wildest ‘Vampire Diaries’ Twists (VIDEO)
Chancellor Agard
October 3, 2013
And while Obama both reflects and reinforces the impetus to realign, the befuddled, hemmed-in GOP seems doomed to decline.
Obama Realigns, the GOP Declines: The New Political Paradigm
Robert Shrum
February 1, 2013

Historical Examples

But it was the multiplicity of laws that befuddled White Fang and often brought him into disgrace.
White Fang
Jack London
To his befuddled mind, the first step was to dress the part.
Louisiana Lou
William West Winter
And what was I to tell him,—that I was all befooled and befuddled?
The O'Ruddy
Stephen Crane
But try as he would his befuddled brain failed to find the answer.
The Street That Wasn't There
Clifford Donald Simak
The eyes were only vaguely familiar in his befuddled memory.
Creatures of Vibration
Harl Vincent

British Dictionary definitions for befuddled

befuddle

verb (tr)

to confuse, muddle, or perplex
to make stupid with drink

Derived Formsbefuddlement, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for befuddled

befuddle

v.

"confuse," 1873, from be- + fuddle; originally "to confuse with strong drink or opium" (by 1832). An earlier word in the same sense was begunk (1725). Related: Befuddled; befuddling.

befuddle

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}befuddle

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for befuddled

Contemporary Examples

The ruins of an ancient town deep in the Kenyan forest have befuddled archaeologists and historians for decades.

Confusion over the catcher's eye black is just the tip of the iceberg for this befuddled limey.

Taken aback, toothpaste dribbling down my chin, I stood there befuddled, not quite sure what to do next.

Silas then locked a befuddled Stefan in the safe meant for himself and dropped it into the river.

And while Obama both reflects and reinforces the impetus to realign, the befuddled, hemmed-in GOP seems doomed to decline.

Historical Examples

But it was the multiplicity of laws that befuddled White Fang and often brought him into disgrace.

To his befuddled mind, the first step was to dress the part.

And what was I to tell him,—that I was all befooled and befuddled?

But try as he would his befuddled brain failed to find the answer.

The eyes were only vaguely familiar in his befuddled memory.

befuddle

Word Origin and History for befuddled

befuddle

v.

Origin of befuddle