Dictionary

befuddle en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /bɪˈfʌdl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h₁épsder. Proto-Indo-European *h₁épider. Proto-Indo-European *h₁pi Proto-Germanic *bider. Proto-Germanic *bi- Proto-West Germanic *bi- Old English be- Middle English bi- English be- English fuddle English befuddle From be- + fuddle.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To perplex, confuse (someone).
   • The explanation left him completely befuddled.
   • Slowly the ape-man picked out the meaning of the various combinations of letters on the printed page, and as he read, the little bugs, for as such he always thought of the letters, commenced to run about in a most confusing manner, blurring his vision and befuddling his thoughts. 1916, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “The Nightmare”, in Jungle Tales of Tarzan, A. C. McClurg:
2. (transitive) To stupefy (someone), especially with alcohol.
   • […] to the American and French alcoholics, who drink in order to get drunk and befuddle the brain 1983, Basile Kerblay, Modern Soviet Society, page 290:

Forms

Deriveds

befuddler · befuddled · befuddlement · befuddling · befuzzle · confuddle

Synonyms

bamboozle · puzzle · flurry · bewilder · perplex · confound · flabbergast · confuzzle · befuddle · embroil · confuddle · flabbergaster · addle · baffle · bemud · entangle · jumble · baffound · muddy · lose · dazzle · disconcert · dumbfound · blind · mix up · flummox · flabagast · confuse · complicate · stick · bemuse · stump · throw · ferhoodle · bedevil · muddle · ravel · knot · bumfuzzle · discombobulate · fluster · vex · fuddle

Translations (30)

fr confondre (perplex or confuse) · bg опиянявам (stupefy) · fi häkellyttää (perplex or confuse) · fr épater (perplex or confuse) · pt confundir (perplex or confuse) · it annebbiare (stupefy) · nl verwarren (perplex or confuse) · it confondere (perplex or confuse) · fi huumata (stupefy) · it istupidire (stupefy) · cmn 使迷惑 (perplex or confuse) · nl verdoven (stupefy) · bg обърквам (perplex or confuse) · nl verbazen (perplex or confuse) · sv omtöckna (perplex or confuse) · fi hämmentää (perplex or confuse) · cs omráčit (stupefy) · cs zmást (perplex or confuse) · it ingarbugliare (stupefy) · es confundir (perplex or confuse) · fr brouiller (perplex or confuse) · de berauschen (stupefy) · cmn 使困惑 (perplex or confuse) · de verwirren (perplex or confuse) · ru одурманивать (stupefy) · it sconcertare (perplex or confuse) · fi päihdyttää (stupefy) · ru сбива́ть с толку (perplex or confuse) · io konfundigar (perplex or confuse) · nl verdwazen (stupefy)