befuddled

[ bih-fuhd-ld ]

adjective

1. confused or muddled:

   They claim this is the prevailing economic theory, taught in the best schools, and that I am a hopelessly befuddled fool for questioning it.

2. puzzled or perplexed:

   People often ask us—usually with a befuddled look on their face—"Why on earth are you doing this?"

3. stupidly drunk:

   I don't think he's sobered up at all—in fact, he looks almost frighteningly befuddled and out of it.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of befuddle.

Word History and Origins

Origin of befuddled¹

First recorded in 1830–40; befuddle + -ed ²( def ) for the adjective senses; befuddle + -ed ¹( def ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

And what a man Beck and Woods have cast in their religious horror film, effectively weaponizing the befuddled British charm of Hugh Grant, who has fumbled and grinned through such rom-com classics as “Notting Hill,” “Bridget Jones’s Diary” and many more.

From Los Angeles Times

Less than six months ago, the oldest sitting president in U.S. history appeared so befuddled during a debate that his barely younger, twice impeached, convicted felon predecessor — a man who stands federally accused of orchestrating a complex criminal scheme to violently cling to power the last time he lost it — seemed poised to reclaim the White House with ease.

From Los Angeles Times

Will Biden’s remarks matter to voters in a race that he is not running in, which he in fact dropped out of in part because he sometimes appears befuddled when speaking, and in which Trump has routinely made similar and worse remarks about America as a whole and about various subgroups within the electorate?

From Los Angeles Times

He exited the presidential race after appearing so befuddled in a July debate against Trump that many in the country began to question his mental acuity and his ability to lead.

From Los Angeles Times

Shakeel eventually miscued Atkinson to mid-wicket before last man Zahid Mahmood was befuddled by an Ahmed googly.

From BBC

Related Words

• baffled
• bewildered