baffle 1 of 2

baffle

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb baffle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of baffle are balk, foil, frustrate, and thwart. While all these words mean "to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal," baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling.

baffled by the maze of rules and regulations

When would balk be a good substitute for baffle?

While in some cases nearly identical to baffle, balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances.

officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime

When can foil be used instead of baffle?

Although the words foil and baffle have much in common, foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort.

foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her

Where would frustrate be a reasonable alternative to baffle?

The synonyms frustrate and baffle are sometimes interchangeable, but frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent.

frustrated attempts at government reform

When is thwart a more appropriate choice than baffle?

The words thwart and baffle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing.

the army thwarted his attempt at a coup

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of baffle
Verb
Eduardo Munoz / Reuters Immigration lawyers baffled The fines reviewed by Reuters were issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but a separate agency — Customs and Border Protection — has been asked to process them and handle potential forfeitures, Reuters reported in April. Reuters, NBC news, 20 May 2025 Kennedy found their faith in pharmaceutical firms baffling. Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
Noun
The 3-inch down topper has a 750-fill power which is distributed evenly with a three-dimensional baffle box stitching and encased in a cotton sateen shell. Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 19 Mar. 2025 Make birdfeeders inaccessible, such as by using a baffle. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 22 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for baffle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baffle
Verb
  • His Democratic Party predecessor, Moon Jae-in, had three years with a near supermajority in the legislature but had his agenda frustrated by party colleagues with little appetite for painful corrective measures.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 29 May 2025
  • Musk was reportedly frustrated about OpenAI being part of the deal and allegedly warned G42 officials on a call that Trump would not sign off on a deal unless his company xAI was included.
    Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • Many observers were perplexed that an eighty-two-year-old man with virtually unlimited access to medical care—and about whose health there has been virtually unlimited conjecture—could have gone undiagnosed until the cancer threatened his life.
    Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 22 May 2025
  • Social-media users were undoubtedly perplexed by the bone discovery, leading to more than 860 comments on the Instagram video.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • The truck struck Hopkins, whose motorcycle became lodged in the truck’s fender, Easter said.
    Christian Martinez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The Icons Collection medallion is mounted on the rear fender, while each bike's unique serial number is engraved on a commemorative tank console inlay.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • They were bewildered for me, and so was all the other staff.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Small wonder many of the migrants are disoriented and bewildered.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Sometimes, guests retreated to sleep on foldout cushions in the two-bedroom loft, then showed up again in the morning to talk over coffee.
    Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 22 May 2025
  • There are about 114 billion pennies currently in circulation in the United States, the Treasury says, with an untold number buried in sofa cushions or rattling around under car floor mats.
    Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Also, this word et cetera at the end of the sentence confused me.
    EW.com, EW.com, 26 May 2025
  • Weir was confused by the man’s unusual conviction, though.
    Louise Erdrich, New Yorker, 25 May 2025
Noun
  • Investigators at the scene found the housing to a side view mirror, a front driver’s side bumper component and a detached front driver’s side wheel trim.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 19 May 2025
  • The 32-year-old driver was docked 60 championship points and 5 playoff points for a front bumper violation in Kansas.
    Lydia Mee, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • But very puzzling storytelling choices as well that diminish many of these characters, making Joel and Ellie feel less realized as people and less nuanced as characters, giving Dina and Ellie such a weird cheery vibe (when Dina isn’t mothering Ellie) and so forth.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • In 1981, as otherwise healthy gay men started dying of unexpected cancers and infections, a government immunologist named Anthony Fauci pushed aside his other research to focus on the puzzling malady.
    Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 19 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Baffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baffle. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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