befuddled


Also found in: Thesaurus.

be·fud·dle

 (bĭ-fŭd′l)
tr.v. be·fud·dled, be·fud·dling, be·fud·dles
1. To cause (someone) to be unable to think clearly; confuse:
2. To stupefy with alcohol; intoxicate.
Synonyms: befuddle, addle, discombobulate, fuddle, muddle
These verbs mean to cause to be unclear in mind or intent: a difficult question that befuddled the authorities; problems that addle my brain; was discombobulated by all of the choices; a complex plot line that fuddled my comprehension; a student who was muddled by endless facts and figures.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

befuddled

(bɪˈfʌdəld)
adj
1. confused, muddled, perplexed
2. stupefied with drink
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adj.1.befuddled - stupefied by alcoholic drinkbefuddled - stupefied by alcoholic drink; "the wino's poor befuddled mind"; "a mind befogged with drink"
confused - mentally confused; unable to think with clarity or act intelligently; "the flood of questions left her bewildered and confused"
2.befuddled - perplexed by many conflicting situations or statementsbefuddled - perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment; "obviously bemused by his questions"; "bewildered and confused"; "a cloudy and confounded philosopher"; "just a mixed-up kid"; "she felt lost on the first day of school"
perplexed - full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment; "perplexed language"; "perplexed state of the world"
3.befuddled - confused and vaguebefuddled - confused and vague; used especially of thinking; "muddleheaded ideas"; "your addled little brain"; "woolly thinking"; "woolly-headed ideas"
confused - mentally confused; unable to think with clarity or act intelligently; "the flood of questions left her bewildered and confused"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

befuddled

adjective confused, upset, puzzled, baffled, at sea, bewildered, muddled, dazed, perplexed, taken aback, intoxicated, disorientated, disorganized, muzzy (U.S. informal), groggy (informal), flummoxed, woozy (informal), at sixes and sevens, fuddled, inebriated, thrown off balance, discombobulated (informal, chiefly U.S. & Canad.), not with it (informal), not knowing if you are coming or going I was befuddled with drink.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations

befuddled

[bɪˈfʌdld] ADJ (= confused) → aturdido
befuddled with drinkatontado por la bebida
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

befuddled

[bɪˈfʌdəld] adj
to be befuddled [person] → avoir les idées brouillées
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

befuddled

[bɪˈfʌdld] adjconfuso/a
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
References in classic literature ?
The gigantic futility of humanity organized and befuddled by the bandits did not shock him.
But it was the multiplicity of laws that befuddled White Fang and often brought him into disgrace.
So befuddled and chaotic were their minds that the utterance of a single word could negative the generalizations of a lifetime of serious research and thought.
Summary: Delay in filling up state ministerial posts has left the party's rank and filed befuddled
I am completely befuddled as to the continual letters to the Daily Herald from supposed readers that support the building of the wall at the southern border and are generally supportive of Trump's immigration policies.
Politicians have again got us well and truly befuddled - but not befuddled enough to miss that this whole sorry mess is by design, rather than by accident.
It was most definitely a case of being bewitched and befuddled rather than one of C'est La Vie when I heard they were appearing on the Throwback Stage line-up at Electric Picnic.
Summary: New Delhi [India], Apr 10 (ANI): There is always a TV show that just hit you in a way that you left you feeling befuddled and enraptured.
Though US central bankers admitted to being befuddled by the absence of inflation last year despite the economic recovery and strong job market, they now see signs of rising price pressures.
Shortly after Trump was elected he spoke with British Prime Minister Theresa May, in a conversation that left "civil servants befuddled," the (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/17/civil-servants-befuddled-trump-casual-invitation-may) Guardian reported at the time.
Still, the 35-year-old Mexican warrior was befuddled with the way Pacquiao dominated him in their two sparring sessions this week at Wild Card Gym.
Though a little strange, this efficient, irreverent sitcom is encased in familiar TV tropes: It's a fish-out-of-water story about a befuddled, old-school dad, and a modest but well-executed workplace sitcom.