besotted

American  

[bih-sot-id] / bɪˈsɒt ɪd /

adjective

1. infatuated or obsessed.

   The besotted mom showed off pictures of her new baby.

   They had one date and he was utterly besotted.

2. intoxicated; drunk.

   We found him besotted with wine.

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besotted British  

/ bɪˈsɒtɪd /

adjective

1. stupefied with drink; intoxicated

2. infatuated; doting

3. foolish; muddled

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Other Word Forms

• besottedly adverb
• besottedness noun

Etymology

Origin of besotted

First recorded in 1580–90; besot + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Mr. Paul and his collaborators are clearly besotted lovers as well as knowledgeable students of the musicals they are spoofing, so the evening’s spirit is exuberantly affectionate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

The dread comes from fears of a reinterpretation of John Galsworthy’s Nobel Prize-winning books, collectively known as “The Forsyte Saga,” to suit an audience besotted with “Bridgerton” and other sensual period adaptations.

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026

My source remembers vividly that Mojtaba was totally besotted with the apocalypse and was also just a very shrewd, intelligent guy.

From Slate • Mar. 11, 2026

Fairly early in his lengthy investment career, in the mid-1960s, this thrifty son of Yorkshire, England, grew besotted with speculative small-cap stocks.

From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025

The police were already wondering if the painting had been stolen by a besotted visitor.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day