bewilder

[bih-wil-der]

verb (used with object)

1. to confuse or puzzle completely; perplex.

   These shifting attitudes bewilder me.

   Synonyms: muddle, stagger, confound, daze, confuse, nonplus, mystify

bewilder

/ bɪˈwɪldə /

verb

1. to confuse utterly; puzzle

2. archaic,  to cause to become lost

Other Word Forms

• bewilderment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bewilder¹

First recorded in 1675–85; be- + wilder ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bewilder¹

C17: see _be- , _wilder

Example Sentences

Superman and the sequel, Superman II, put him firmly back on the public stage - and he appeared in a bewildering variety of genres.

From BBC

“The company said they won’t insure me again because because I filed a claim on my house,” he said, bewildered.

From Los Angeles Times

He can’t understand how she could have married; she’s bewildered that he could have expected her to wait indefinitely for a ghost.

From Los Angeles Times

"Anything that can help on that front is likely to be welcome news to taxpayers as HMRC's current online guidance can be bewildering to many."

From BBC

The company makes a bewildering array of components from rubber and synthetic materials, for washing machines, fridges, air conditioners.

From BBC

Related Words

• baffle 
• befuddle 
• bemuse 
• confound 
• daze 
• disconcert 
• distract 
• fluster 
• mystify 
• perplex 
• puzzle 
• rattle 
• stump 
• stupefy 
• upset