bewildered

[bih-wil-derd]

adjective

1. completely puzzled or confused; perplexed.

Other Word Forms

• bewilderedly adverb
• bewilderedness noun
• unbewildered adjective
• unbewilderedly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of bewildered¹

First recorded in 1675–85; bewilder + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Now the bewildered rodent could do nothing but press his nose against the glass and knock with his tiny, monkeylike paws as his bushy tail flicked to and fro with anxiety.

Read more on Literature

Lady Constance righted herself, as if her teary-eyed dive at the bewildered governess had never happened.

Read more on Literature

As a people, the Japanese had been bewildered by these new American financial creations, and steered clear of them.

Read more on Literature

Since his homecoming—and hospitalization—Seymour has bewildered and occasionally frightened everyone he comes in contact with, except Sybil, a little girl he encounters who is enchanted by his banter and off-kilter stories.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

By the time Brentford punished Liverpool's sloppy defending to leave the champions in turmoil, Slot was looking increasingly bewildered on the touchline.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• astonished 
• awed 
• baffled 
• befuddled 
• dazed 
• mystified www.thesaurus.com
• perplexed 
• puzzled www.thesaurus.com
• rattled www.thesaurus.com
• shocked www.thesaurus.com
• startled 
• stunned 
• surprised www.thesaurus.com