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Definitions

baffled

[baf-uhld] / ˈbæf əld /












ADJECTIVE
stuck
Synonyms
Antonyms
STRONG


Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for baffled?
Baffled means extremely or completely puzzled or confused. Perhaps the closest synonym is stumped, which is used to describe someone who has no idea what the answer or solution is or what their next action should be—someone who simply cannot figure it out despite having tried their hardest. Synonyms for baffled that are similarly intense include perplexed, confounded, bewildered, and befuddled. Less commonly, baffled is used to mean the same thing as thwarted. Similar words include foiled, defeated, and the more specific sense of frustrated.
What is the opposite (antonym) of baffled?
Baffled doesn’t really have a direct opposite in the form of an adjective. However, someone who was baffled may eventually figure out the problem or find the answer to the question. In this way, they fully understand or see clearly—they have a clear-eyed view of the problem, question, or situation. The opposite of baffled in the sense of thwarted is successful.
How do you use baffled in a sentence?
Baffled is most commonly used in the context of things that are difficult or impossible to figure out or understand. Here are some examples of baffled in a sentence:
  • I’m completely baffled. Why would anyone have done this?
  • His explanation left us all baffled.
  • Baffled investigators have been unable to identify a single suspect.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Catherine Colaizzo, a 66-year-old chiropractor, accepted the police chief’s explanation for the delayed notification, but she remained baffled by the theft itself.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 11, 2026

MarketWatch’s Jeffry Bartash, Jillian Berman and Greg Robb examine how a labor market with relatively few layoffs but little hiring has left job seekers struggling and economists baffled.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026

“I’m a little baffled because I signed my kid up for soccer,” she tells the officers, “so they are literally kicking him out of this place because he’s good at soccer.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026

I am regularly baffled by teams' tyre strategies, but Ferrari's in Singapore was the worst in recent years.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

If this girl has so fully misunderstood or been so wholly baffled by the strange little scene that has unfolded before her, how might it affect the lives of the two adults?

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan


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