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.

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.

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.