Synonyms

flummoxed

American

[fluhm-uhkst] / ˈflʌm əkst /

adjective

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

the simple past tense and past participle of flummox.

Etymology

Origin of flummoxed

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

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.

But several of those madcap ideas flummoxed fans—Carlin pointed to the 1972 single “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” which was inspired by the nursery rhyme.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

It is unclear what role, if any, the people may have played in Guthrie’s disappearance, which has flummoxed investigators for almost two weeks.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2026

The U.S. economy is expected to grow by 1.8% this year, notwithstanding policy shifts that have flummoxed economists and business leaders.

From Barron's • Dec. 11, 2025

"I was flummoxed, then fuming about it. They seemed to dismiss the fact that the plane turned around," she said.

From BBC • Sep. 22, 2025

The stewardess was flummoxed for only a moment.

From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

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