to bewilder
3
5.3
- verb
- /bɪˈwɪldər/
- Trying to understand the complex instructions bewildered the entire group during the meeting.
- seem bewildered
- felt bewildered
- find school bewildering
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Watch on YouTubeIt's science, like art, music and literature, has the power to amaze and excite, to dazzle and bewilder.
- It's science, like art, music and literature, has the power to amaze and excite, to dazzle and bewilder.
Examples
-
Faced by the war, western politicians were bewildered.
-
Russians under thirty react very differently to the new conditions than their frightened and bewildered elders.
Academic text (2000) -
I am just bewildered by life.
-
The way some people behave just... bewilders me.
-
Then, through the wall, Joey walks into the Hut, still bewildered by the sights around her.
Fiction book (1992) -
Many respondents felt bewildered when they became deaf and had fears for their personal safety.
Academic text (2001) -
The faculty was upset, and their responses angered and bewildered the students.
Academic text (2003) -
However, the policies of the new Clinton administration disappointed and bewildered Washington's supporters in India.
Academic text (2001) -
After struggling with the manuscript for a few months, a bewildered Herbert Marcuse wrote to Horkheimer.
Academic text (1998) -
"Will you help me choose the best prawns?" Scarlett was bewildered until the girl gestured toward the shrimp.
Fiction book (1991)
Synonyms
188
7.8
To make someone feel confused or unsure
152
1.9
Make someone unable to think clearly or make something hard to understand
30
4.9
To make someone feel confused when something is hard to understand
25
5.3
To make someone very confused and unable to understand
22
7.0
To be too difficult for someone to understand
20
7.0
Make someone unable to think clearly
11
6.5
To make someone confused by making something seem mysterious
6
6.3
To make someone confused and unable to understand
4
7.8
To make someone very confused so they cannot think clearly
2
9.9
To confuse someone so they cannot think clearly
2
7.9
To make someone unable to think or react after a very strong shock
2
8.6
To confuse someone so they do not know what to do or think
1
7.5
To make someone feel confused or unable to understand
1
7.7
To confuse someone by making something hard to understand
1
7.0
To surprise someone so much that they cannot speak or answer
1
8.9
To confuse someone so they cannot think clearly
1
9.9
To annoy or puzzle someone
1
9.4
Surprise and confuse a person so they do not know what to do
Antonyms
How Confusing
Surface Forms
Morphology
bewilder = wilder (opaque) = be + wild + er
The word is built from be- + wilder, but the modern sense 'confuse' is a historical extension that is not directly predictable from the component meanings.
Etymology
The word bewilder comes from the parts be- and wild and originally meant 'to lead into the wild', like sending someone into the woods so they would lose their way. So the image of being lost in the wild explains why bewilder now means to confuse someone or make them feel lost.