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

When Jay goes on to paraphrase “Baldwin” on the subject of white racism, Leigh is befuddled: “Alec Baldwin’s black?” he sputters.

From The Wall Street Journal

The music crashed to a stop and he turned a befuddled glare toward the audience.

From Literature

My befuddled brain simply thinks it’s another hallucination and I wait for it to disappear.

From Literature

The exit unwound a transaction that befuddled shareholders and led to a steep selloff in Masimo shares.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yet I feel like a befuddled novice, still grappling with the surprises.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• baffled
• bewildered