Synonyms

flummox

American

[fluhm-uhks] / ˈflʌm əks /

verb (used with object)

Informal.

to bewilder; confound; confuse.

flummox British

/ ˈflʌməks /

verb

(tr) to perplex or bewilder

"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

Etymology

Origin of flummox

First recorded in 1830–40; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It has continued to flummox consumers in countries such as Spain and Italy, where "mermelada" and "marmellata" respectively are commonly used for spreads made from other kinds of fruit, such as plums and figs.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

That is roughly as much as Tesla and, if it happens, will flummox traditional aerospace and defense analysts just like Tesla’s valuation can upset traditional car people.

From Barron's • Dec. 12, 2025

The provision is remarkably straightforward—a far cry from the ambiguous, sloppy, or muddled laws that typically flummox the judiciary.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2024

It might help a few diligent users but would flummox others and probably be mostly ignored.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 10, 2023

Fern had managed to completely flummox the Establishment.

From "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023