befuddle

[ bih-fuhd-l ]

/ bɪˈfʌd l /

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See synonyms for: befuddle / befuddled / befuddles / befuddling 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR befuddle

1 perplex, bewilder, baffle, daze, muddle.

See synonyms for befuddle on Thesaurus.com

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On the farm, the feed for chicks is significantly different from the roosters’; ______ not even comparable.

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Origin of befuddle

First recorded in 1885–90; be- + fuddle

OTHER WORDS FROM befuddle

be·fud·dler, nounbe·fud·dle·ment, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use befuddle in a sentence

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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
He seemed befuddled the politics of the situation left no alternatives open for the GOP.
Senate Raises Debt Ceiling After GOP 'Dysfunction'|Ben Jacobs|February 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Fox News called him a “doleful hound,” while the Washington Post preferred the less stylized, “slightly befuddled-looking.”
The Taliban Trolled the Internet with a Dog Video and Upstaged an American POW|Brian Van Reet|February 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Why, she got befuddled in reciting something about an Indian uprising that came in our American History hour.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage|Gertrude W. Morrison
His wild escape—his coming to this unknown place—and now this befuddled young fellow intent upon battle with him.
Children of the Whirlwind|Leroy Scott
I can't make head or tail of them, and I think my brother is about as much befuddled as I am.
Children of the Whirlwind|Leroy Scott
Noll had been drinking that day; he was befuddled; his brain was thick.
The Sea Bride|Ben Ames Williams
He checked, searching his befuddled mind for a compelling threat.
Joan Thursday|Louis Joseph Vance

British Dictionary definitions for befuddle

befuddle

/ (bɪˈfʌdəl) /

verb (tr)

to confuse, muddle, or perplex

to make stupid with drink

Derived forms of befuddle

befuddlement, 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

befuddle

OTHER WORDS FOR befuddle

Origin of befuddle

OTHER WORDS FROM befuddle

Words related to befuddle

How to use befuddle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for befuddle

Derived forms of befuddle