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Meaning of bewilder
The primary meaning of the word "bewilder" is to cause someone to feel completely puzzled or confused, often because a situation is complex or unfamiliar.
Etymology of bewilder
The word "bewilder" has its roots in Old English and Middle English, where "wild" or "wilder" meant "wild" or "untamed"
The prefix "be-" was added to "wilder" to create "bewilder", which originally meant "to guide or lead someone into the wilderness"
Over time, the word took on a more figurative meaning, referring to the act of causing someone to feel confused, disoriented, or lost
Synonyms
perplex
confuse
puzzle
bemuse
disorient
confound
stun
daze
astonish
astound
stagger
nonplus
flabbergast
dismay
disconcert
unsettle
rattle
flummox
mystify
bewitch
enchant
spellbind
hypnotize
mesmerize
fascinate
captivate
enthrall
beguile
deceive
mislead
delude
dupe
hoodwink
bamboozle
befuddle
addle
muddle
fuddle
obscure
obscurely
perplexingly
puzzlingly
Definitions
- To cause someone to feel completely puzzled or confused, often because a situation is complex or unfamiliar
- To make someone feel disoriented or lost, often in a physical or metaphorical sense
- To astonish or amaze someone, often in a way that is overwhelming or unsettling
Usage Examples
- The complex instructions bewildered me, and I couldn't figure out how to assemble the furniture
- The sheer scale of the city bewildered the young traveler, who had never seen so many people and buildings before
- The plot twist in the movie bewildered the audience, who were left wondering what had just happened