bewilder

verb be·wil·der \bi-ˈwil-dər, bē-\

: to confuse (someone) very much

be·wil·deredbe·wil·der·ing\-d(ə-)riŋ\

Full Definition of BEWILDER

transitive verb

: to cause to lose one's bearings

: to perplex or confuse especially by a complexity, variety, or multitude of objects or considerations

— be·wil·dered·ly adverb

— be·wil·dered·ness noun

— be·wil·der·ing·ly \-d(ə-)riŋ-lē\ adverb

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First Known Use of BEWILDER

1684

Related to BEWILDER

Synonyms: addle, baffle, bamboozle, beat, befog, befuddle, bemuse, confuse, buffalo, confound, discombobulate, disorient, flummox, fox, fuddle, get, gravel, maze, muddle, muddy, mystify, perplex, pose, puzzle, vex

Synonym Discussion of BEWILDER

puzzle, perplex, bewilder, distract, nonplus, confound, dumbfound mean to baffle and disturb mentally. puzzle implies existence of a problem difficult to solve <the persistent fever puzzled the doctor>. perplex adds a suggestion of worry and uncertainty especially about making a necessary decision <a behavior that perplexed her friends>. bewilder stresses a confusion of mind that hampers clear and decisive thinking <a bewildering number of possibilities>. distract implies agitation or uncertainty induced by conflicting preoccupations or interests <distracted by personal problems>. nonplus implies a bafflement that makes orderly planning or deciding impossible <the remark left us utterly nonplussed>. confound implies temporary mental paralysis caused by astonishment or profound abasement <the tragic news confounded us all>. 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>.