baffled

[ baf-uhld ]

adjective

1. bewildered or perplexed; puzzled:

   I went to bed shaking my head, completely baffled and amazed at the strange turn the day had taken.

2. equipped with one or more baffles, or structures to obstruct the movement of fluids, sound, etc.:

   Any spraying operations shall be done within a baffled or enclosed area of the solvent cleaning machine.

3. thwarted:

   “Every anarchist is a baffled dictator,” wrote Mussolini.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of anticipate ( def ).

Other Words From

• un·baf·fled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of baffled¹

baffle ( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

He confesses humbly to being a little skeptical, makes a big show of wanting Geller to do well, invites him to return and try again, and as Geller struggles, Carson listens, waits patiently, acts baffled.

From New York Times

"Oasis are back and Jedward are back!" they declared, before racing over to baffled German and French journalists, while singing Stop Crying Your Heart Out.

From BBC

I am so baffled Geroge was taken off after 51 minutes.

From BBC

Her fatal stabbing has baffled police for 15 years.

From BBC

Initially I was baffled as to how this phenomenon had returned to a new young generation, 24 years after the character first appeared.

From BBC

Related Words

• dubious
• hesitant
• indecisive
• puzzled
• skeptical
• suspicious
• tentative
• uncertain
• unconvinced
• undecided
• unsettled
• unsure