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. to perplex; mystify; confound.

   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

Derived Forms

• bamˈboozlement, noun
• bamˈboozler, noun

Other Words From

• bam·boo·zle·ment noun
• bam·boo·zler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bamboozle¹

First recorded in 1695–1705; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of bamboozle¹

C18: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

“To find out I had to sit out, that’s when I kind of felt bamboozled, because y’all told me to go,” he said, adding that he “absolutely” would not have taken the trip had he known it would cause him to miss five days of practice.

From Washington Post

Or when he said the Clinton camp was trying to “bamboozle” or “hoodwink” voters?

From The Daily Beast

His name is used to bamboozle the people, to despoil them, and to make them patient asses under their burdens.

From Project Gutenberg

He saw he could not fool or bamboozle me in the slightest degree.

From Project Gutenberg

This wandering about I considered necessary in order to delay and perhaps bamboozle any police dog put on my track.

From Project Gutenberg

It has rather cynically been said that governments are of two kinds—bamboo and bamboozle.

From Project Gutenberg

He would sit on a log with a gypsy, and bamboozle him with lies made for the purpose, then thrash him for not believing them.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• befuddle
• deceive
• delude
• dupe
• hoodwink
• mystify
• perplex