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to baffle

to baffle

3 6.1
To stop someone's plans or efforts from succeeding
  • verb
  • /ˈbæfəl/
translation icon : frustrar
  • As a teenager, Dub had figured out that women were going to blindside and baffle him most of his life.

Examples

  • The thing that baffles my mind is that people don't realize that there is no Monday morning quarterbacking in life.

  • This was typical of the details that could baffle him in the morning.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Boy, it just like, it baffles me that they can move stuff like that.

  • We don't want to baffle her.

  • However, the case has baffled the investigating officers.

    Blog text (9)
  • It always baffles me when I see people get up in arms about someone telling a lie.

  • Certain cities of the Orient were designed to baffle the enemy by a tangle of intricate streets.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • When John Hobson cast economics in macrotheoretical terms, he baffled his fellow economists.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Prince Bondo, the messenger, confided that he had long labored under an affliction that baffled the best minds in the medical and magical worlds.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The complicated math problem completely baffled the students during the exam.

Synonyms

to cross
vsto baffle
208 5.9

To stop someone's plans or make them fail

is broader covering general blocking of plans not only conflicts
to thwart
vsto baffle
87 7.4

To stop someone from doing what they want

is general hindering that may not involve direct opposition
to spoil
vsto baffle
80 2.8

To make something less good or enjoyable

is about preventing efforts or desires rather than causing material damage
to foil
vsto baffle
36 5.5

To stop a plan or action from working

is the same idea framed as hindering or frustrating efforts
to frustrate
vsto baffle
35 3.6

Stop someone from doing something they planned to do

is similar but emphasizes frustrating plans and desires rather than outcomes
to stymie
vsto baffle
5 8.0

To stop or slow progress

is broader, covering prevention of plans not only obstacle creation
to scotch
vsto baffle
1 8.1

To stop a plan or action from happening

is about hindering plans generally rather than only decisive prevention
to bilk
vsto baffle
  • Archaic
9.9

Stop someone's plans or efforts from succeeding

is the general idea of frustrating plans rather than emphasizing immediacy
to baff
vsto baffle
  • UK
9.9

To hit something lightly or confuse someone

is focused on preventing plans or desires not on physical striking

Antonyms

1.0

Give help to a person or idea

to facilitate
  • Formal
187 4.9

To make a task or process easier and help it happen

Compounds

baffle board
  • Specialized
8.4

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

How Effective

to thwart
87 7.4
to baffle
3 6.1
to obstruct
119 5.1
to hinder
75 3.6
to impede
35 6.5
to discourage
257 3.5

Surface Forms

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

Etymology

Baffle A helpful way to remember this sense is to think of the idea 'to stop' or 'to strike', so to baffle someone's plans is to block or frustrate them. That's why baffle can mean to prevent someone from reaching a goal.