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View synonyms for bamboozle

bamboozle

[ bam-boo-zuhl ]

verb (used with object)

, bam·boo·zled, bam·boo·zling.
  1. to deceive or get the better of (someone) by trickery, flattery, or the like; humbug; hoodwink (often followed by into ):

    They bamboozled us into joining the club.

    Synonyms: fool, mislead, delude, rook, gull, hoax, flimflam, defraud, swindle, cheat, trick, dupe, gyp

  2. Synonyms: dumbfound, baffle, puzzle, bewilder, befog



verb (used without object)

, bam·boo·zled, bam·boo·zling.
  1. to practice trickery, deception, cozenage, or the like:

    He has been known to bamboozle, so I don't trust him.

bamboozle

/ bæmˈbuːzəl /

verb

  1. to cheat; mislead
  2. to confuse
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • bamˈboozler, noun
  • bamˈboozlement, noun
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Other Words From

  • bam·boo·zle·ment noun
  • bam·boo·zler noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of bamboozle1

First recorded in 1695–1705; origin uncertain
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Word History and Origins

Origin of bamboozle1

C18: of unknown origin
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Example Sentences

Sarah Ferguson pulled a pint in the Rovers Return Inn and said she would have to "bamboozle" producers to get a part.

From BBC

The ex-wife of Prince Andrew told executives from the soap that she would have to "bamboozle" them to "allow me to do a cameo".

From BBC

Five of the wickets fell to spin with two to Ritu Moni's medium pace, and while it was not their finest innings, it did not prove too costly as England's own spinners produced an exceptionally disciplined display to bamboozle a poor Bangladesh batting line-up.

From BBC

Hitler ran a regime that engaged in elaborate charades to bamboozle sympathetic and influential foreigners about the nature of the Nazi state.

From Salon

So when he called for "unity" after his close encounter with an assassin's bullet, the safest assumption should have been that he was lying, exploiting his own attempted murder to bamboozle the press into downplaying his swing voter-alienating violent radicalism.

From Salon

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