Standard Lemma guide

befuddle

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /bɪˈfʌdl/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ʌdl
  • CMU ARPABET: B IH0 F AH1 D AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To perplex, confuse (someone).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The explanation left him completely befuddled.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: addle, baffle, vex, lose, embroil, stick, stump, baffound, bamboozle, bedevil, befuddle, throw, bemud, bemuse, bewilder, bumfuzzle, complicate, confound, confuddle, confuse, confuzzle, dazzle, discombobulate, disconcert, blind, dumbfound, entangle, ferhoodle, flabagast, flabbergast, flabbergaster, flurry, fluster, flummox, fuddle, jumble, knot, mix up, muddle, muddy, ravel, perplex, puzzle

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To stupefy (someone), especially with alcohol.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • These questions confuse even the experts
  • This question completely threw me
  • This question befuddled even the teacher

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: confuse, throw, fox, fuddle, bedevil, confound, discombobulate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: be

Narrower terms: demoralize, perplex, vex, stick, get, puzzle, mystify, baffle, beat, pose, bewilder, flummox, stupefy, nonplus, gravel, amaze, dumbfound, disorient, disorientate

4

verb

Meaning 4

make stupid with alcohol

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fuddle

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: intoxicate, soak, inebriate

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h1épsder. Proto-Indo-European *h1epider. Proto-Indo-European *h1pi Proto-Germanic *bider. Proto-Germanic *bi- Proto-West Germanic *bi- Old English be- Middle English bi- English be- English fuddle English befuddle From be- + fuddle.

Across languages

Translations

30 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: обърквам (obǎrkvam) — perplex or confuse
  • Chinese Mandarin: 使困惑 — perplex or confuse
  • Chinese Mandarin: 使迷惑 — perplex or confuse
  • Czech: zmást — perplex or confuse
  • Dutch: verbazen — perplex or confuse
  • Dutch: verwarren — perplex or confuse
  • Finnish: hämmentää — perplex or confuse
  • Finnish: häkellyttää — perplex or confuse
  • French: brouiller — perplex or confuse
  • French: confondre — perplex or confuse
  • French: épater — perplex or confuse
  • German: verwirren — perplex or confuse
  • Ido: konfundigar — perplex or confuse
  • Italian: confondere — perplex or confuse
  • Italian: sconcertare — perplex or confuse
  • Portuguese: confundir — perplex or confuse
  • Russian: сбива́ть с толку (sbivátʹ s tolku) — perplex or confuse
  • Spanish: confundir — perplex or confuse
  • Swedish: omtöckna — perplex or confuse
  • Bulgarian: опиянявам (opijanjavam) — stupefy
  • Czech: omráčit — stupefy
  • Dutch: verdwazen — stupefy
  • Dutch: verdoven — stupefy
  • Finnish: huumata — stupefy
  • Finnish: päihdyttää — stupefy
  • German: berauschen — stupefy
  • Italian: ingarbugliare — stupefy
  • Italian: annebbiare — stupefy
  • Italian: istupidire — stupefy
  • Russian: одурманивать (odurmanivatʹ) — stupefy