Synonym Chooser

How does the verb bewilder differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bewilder are confound, distract, dumbfound, nonplus, perplex, and puzzle. While all these words mean "to baffle and disturb mentally," bewilder stresses a confusion of mind that hampers clear and decisive thinking.

a bewildering number of possibilities

Where would confound be a reasonable alternative to bewilder?

The meanings of confound and bewilder largely overlap; however, confound implies temporary mental paralysis caused by astonishment or profound abasement.

the tragic news confounded us all

When would distract be a good substitute for bewilder?

In some situations, the words distract and bewilder are roughly equivalent. However, distract implies agitation or uncertainty induced by conflicting preoccupations or interests.

distracted by personal problems

When might dumbfound be a better fit than bewilder?

While the synonyms dumbfound and bewilder are close in meaning, dumbfound suggests intense but momentary confounding; often the idea of astonishment is so stressed that it becomes a near synonym of astound.

was at first too dumbfounded to reply

When is it sensible to use nonplus instead of bewilder?

Although the words nonplus and bewilder have much in common, nonplus implies a bafflement that makes orderly planning or deciding impossible.

the remark left us utterly nonplussed

When can perplex be used instead of bewilder?

The synonyms perplex and bewilder are sometimes interchangeable, but perplex adds a suggestion of worry and uncertainty especially about making a necessary decision.

a behavior that perplexed her friends

In what contexts can puzzle take the place of bewilder?

The words puzzle and bewilder can be used in similar contexts, but puzzle implies existence of a problem difficult to solve.

the persistent fever puzzled the doctor

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 bewilder Meanwhile, Ukrainians are bewildered, wondering how the U.S. went so quickly from isolating the Kremlin to appearing to embrace it. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 24 Feb. 2025 This is also mainly why the Silicon Valley money layer are still somewhat baffled and bewildered by gaming. Ollie Barder, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024 The cat, named Ameera, looked bewildered by her family early start to the day. Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025 Trump’s 180 on the Ukrainian cause and willingness to deal with Putin have left many Ukrainians and Russian dissidents living in Sacramento bewildered. Joe Rubin, Sacramento Bee, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bewilder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bewilder
Verb
  • And some Democrats are still perplexed by the fact that last November Donald Trump became the first Republican since maybe Abraham Lincoln to carry Fall River.
    Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Dahl was especially perplexed by the response to Evans’s fall.
    Ronan Farrow, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • No one was going to confuse Colossal with the Sierra Club.
    D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Let go of a common misconception Some parents worry that teaching their child multiple languages will set them back or confuse them.
    Julia Furlan, NPR, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Two endangered whales are baffling researchers by continuing to show up along a stretch of U.S coast that is not part of their turf, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries.
    Mark Price, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025
  • President Donald Trump’s mass tariffs have baffled Americans, creating uncertainty for the average consumer, according to industry leaders.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Finding today's Connections puzzle a little bit tricky?
    John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Mathematicians have finally solved a geometry problem that has puzzled the field for decades.
    Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bewilder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bewilder. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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