flummoxed

[ fluhm-uhkst ]

adjective

1. Informal. utterly bewildered, confused, or puzzled:

   When I walk into a store to buy video equipment and see the multitude of options, I’m befuddled and flummoxed.

verb

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of flummoxed¹

First recorded in 1835–40; flummox ( def ) + -ed ²( def ) flummoxed fordef 1, and flummox ( def ) + -ed ¹ flummoxed fordef 2

Example Sentences

The Republican still appeared flummoxed on Sept. 10, when he faced Harris in their lone debate.

From Los Angeles Times

I’m an American living abroad, which means I’m often asked to explain to people outside of the U.S. how this election remains so close; the problem is, even when I’m back home or speaking with American friends, we’re all flummoxed: This guy might win again?

From Slate

I was so flummoxed by the artificiality of the noises entering my ears that I couldn’t concentrate on what I was saying, let alone what my students were asking.

From Slate

In artist Titus Kaphar’s emotionally knotty, semi-autobiographical directorial debut about hurt and resilience — and, of course, making art — we get a refreshingly bone-deep view of how someone can be saved by the act of creation, yet flummoxed by its therapeutic limitations.

From Los Angeles Times

"Teen soap?" the father figure to a generation of "The O.C." fans says, still a little flummoxed at the idea.

From Salon

Related Words

• baffled
• befuddled
• bewildered
• dazed
• disorganized
• distracted
• muddled
• perplexed
• perturbed
• puzzled