flummoxed

[ fluhm-uhkst ]

adjective

1. Informal. utterly bewildered, confused, or puzzled:

   When I walk into a store to buy video equipment and see the multitude of options, I’m befuddled and flummoxed.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of flummox.

Word History and Origins

Origin of flummoxed¹

First recorded in 1835–40; flummox ( def ) + -ed ²( def ) flummoxed fordef 1, and flummox ( def ) + -ed ¹ flummoxed fordef 2

Example Sentences

Only eight safeties have been better at flummoxing passers in 2020.

From Washington Post

Notta Realname reported being “flummoxed” but welcomed the birders into their backyard anyway and then became frustrated when the unexpected guests displayed “questionable” ethics.

From Outside Online

The company announced today that its AlphaFold system has officially solved a protein folding grand challenge that has flummoxed the scientific community for 50 years.

From TechCrunch

Today, three decades after the receptor discovery, the mechanisms of odor perception continue to flummox researchers.

From Nautilus

Because of the Heat’s versatility — they flummoxed Boston with a shifting zone defense — and because they’re the best conditioned team in the league, they can adapt to whatever offense comes their way.

From Ozy

Today, researchers are flummoxed as to the whereabouts of this gargantuan cultural artifact.

From The Daily Beast

The finest minds in the Western intelligence community were flummoxed.

From The Daily Beast

But when Jake Tapper of CNN pointed out that Democrats controlled Congress then, Carney seemed flummoxed.

From The Daily Beast

But some of his views have left the highly influential rigid social conservative wing of the party flummoxed and wary.

From The Daily Beast

Gore stood up to challenge Bush in this 2000 debate, but got flummoxed and deflated by a simple nod.

From The Daily Beast

But when you arst 'im what ought to be done--'e's flummoxed.'

From Project Gutenberg

Only lately I was flummoxed by a gent asking for a liqueur I'd never 'eard of.

From Project Gutenberg

I am all too flummoxed by the masquerade in the tourney round about me.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• baffled
• befuddled
• bewildered
• dazed
• disorganized
• distracted
• muddled
• perplexed
• perturbed
• puzzled