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Meaning & use

bewilder

verb·Academic

Last updated

UK/bɪˈwɪldə/
US/bɪˈwɪldər/

Meaning

  1. verbtransitive

    To confuse someone completely, making them unsure what to do or think.

    Grammar: Takes an object: The instructions bewildered me. Often used in the passive: I was bewildered by the instructions.

    Patterns

    • bewilder someone
    • be bewildered by something
    • bewilder someone with something

    The complicated tax forms bewildered many first-time filers.

    She was bewildered by the sudden change in plans.

    His strange behavior bewildered his friends.

Word forms

third person singularbewilders
past tensebewildered
past participlebewildered
-ing formbewildering

Common combinations

bewildered by
The tourists were bewildered by the maze of streets.
bewildering array
The store offers a bewildering array of choices.
completely bewildered
He looked completely bewildered when asked for his address.
bewilder someone with questions
The reporter bewildered the politician with rapid questions.

Synonyms and how they differ

confuse
Confuse is milder and more general; bewilder suggests a stronger, more overwhelming confusion.
perplex
Perplex is more formal and often implies a puzzle that needs solving; bewilder is more emotional.
baffle
Baffle emphasizes being unable to understand or solve something; bewilder focuses on mental disorientation.

Opposites

clarifyenlighten

Word family

bewilderment noun
The state of being confused and unsure.
bewildering adjective
Causing confusion; very puzzling.
bewildered adjective
Confused and disoriented.

Commonly confused: bewilder or wilder?

bewilder vs wilder

Wilder means more wild (comparative of wild) or to lead astray; bewilder means to confuse completely.

Practice

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