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to baffle

to baffle

65 5.3
To make someone very confused and unable to understand
  • verb
  • /ˈbæfəl/
translation icon : desconcertar
  • For years, scientists have been baffled by the causes of aluminum toxicity in plants.
  • baffle many
  • seem to baffle

So why mother-in-law would give our stuff to Jamie baffles me on so many levels.

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Examples

  • Police are baffled.

  • So I switched to five strange phenomena that baffle scientists.

  • These things just baffle me.

  • Her mental processes baffle me.

  • Since the Korean War did not turn out that way, it seemed to baffle us completely.

    Academic text (1992)
  • You always kind of baffled me.

  • As I suggested in my earlier statements, people are baffled and terrified by the idea of death.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Melissa too was staring, baffled by the unexpected direction the argument had just taken.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • "How's that?" my father asked, baffled but concerned, squinting at me.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The sudden disappearance of the ancient artifact completely baffles archaeologists.

Synonyms

to confuse
vsto baffle
266 1.9

Make someone unable to think clearly or make something hard to understand

is more about creating a puzzling mystery rather than temporary mental fog
to beat
vsto baffle
  • Informal
190 7.0

To be too difficult for someone to understand

is active, making people completely unable to explain or understand events
to puzzle
vsto baffle
73 4.9

To make someone feel confused when something is hard to understand

is more extreme, suggesting a complete inability to make sense of it
to stump
vsto baffle
39 5.3

To make someone unable to answer a question

is broader, applying to general mystery not only a single question
to perplex
vsto baffle
35 6.3

To make someone confused and unable to understand

is more extreme, implying a full, unresolved mystery rather than difficulty
to bewilder
vsto baffle
29 5.3

Make someone very confused and unable to think clearly

is stronger, pointing to an ongoing, unexplained mystery rather than just puzzlement
to mystify
vsto baffle
28 6.5

To make someone confused by making something seem mysterious

is more about causing total puzzlement rather than creating mystery
to confound
vsto baffle
22 7.0

Make someone unable to think clearly

is stronger, pointing to a full bafflement that resists explanation
to dumbfound
vsto baffle
17 7.0

To surprise someone so much that they cannot speak or answer

is less about sudden shock and more about lasting unexplained puzzlement
to befuddle
vsto baffle
11 7.8

To make someone very confused so they cannot think clearly

is more about producing an unsolved or baffling situation rather than illness of thought
to bemuse
vsto baffle
11 7.5

To make someone feel confused or unable to understand

is stronger, indicating a complete inability to make sense of things
to flummox
vsto baffle
7 8.6

To confuse someone so they do not know what to do or think

is more about producing a puzzling, unexplained situation rather than only confusion
to discombobulate
vsto baffle
  • Informal
6 9.9

To confuse someone so they cannot think clearly

is more focused on creating a deep unexplained puzzle rather than mere disorder
to vex
vsto baffle
1 7.7

To confuse someone by making something hard to understand

is more intense, suggesting deep bafflement rather than mild perplexity
to nonplus
vsto baffle
9.4

Surprise and confuse a person so they do not know what to do

is more about sustained, puzzling mystery than momentary surprise
to gravel
vsto baffle
  • Archaic
9.9

To annoy or puzzle someone

is focused mainly on causing deep, unexplained confusion rather than annoyance

Antonyms

2.3

Show something that was hidden or secret

55 4.8

To give someone clear information to help them understand something

Compounds

baffle board
  • Specialized
8.4

A flat board that controls the flow of air, water, or sound

How Confusing

to flummox
7 8.6
to baffle
65 5.3
to bewilder
29 5.3
to confuse
266 1.9
to puzzle
29 3.9

Surface Forms

baffle infinitive
baffled past
baffled past participle
baffling present participle
baffles third person singular

Etymology

Baffle One idea links it to an old word baf meaning 'to strike the mouth'. Imagine someone hit and left speechless. That image helps explain why baffle means to confuse or puzzle someone.