befuddled

[ bih-fuhd-ld ]
See synonyms for befuddled on Thesaurus.com
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?"

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

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

Origin of befuddled

1
First recorded in 1830–40; befuddle + -ed2 for the adjective senses; befuddle + -ed1 for the verb sense

Words Nearby befuddled

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use befuddled in a sentence

  • Why, she got befuddled in reciting something about an Indian uprising that came in our American History hour.

  • His wild escape—his coming to this unknown place—and now this befuddled young fellow intent upon battle with him.

  • I can't make head or tail of them, and I think my brother is about as much befuddled as I am.

  • 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