befuddled
Group 10Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Unable to think clearly; confused or perplexed GRE
Example in Context
Investors were left befuddled by the company's contradictory financial statements, which seemed to tell two entirely different stories.
Synonyms
confusedbewilderedpuzzled
Etymology
To make confused — overwhelmed and unable to think clearly.
- be- (Old English) — to make
- fuddle (Middle English) — to confuse
Memory Aid
🤔Sounds like “be puzzled”
A cartoon character gets BEFUDDLED when they open a puzzle box and a million pieces scatter everywhere!
Visual Association
🤯A person with spinning heads, trying to figure out where all the puzzle pieces went after the explosion!
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “befuddled” mean on the GRE?
befuddled (adjective) means “Unable to think clearly; confused or perplexed”. Investors were left befuddled by the company's contradictory financial statements, which seemed to tell two entirely different stories.
How to remember “befuddled” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “befuddled” sounds like “be puzzled”. A cartoon character gets BEFUDDLED when they open a puzzle box and a million pieces scatter everywhere!
What are synonyms for “befuddled”?
Common synonyms: confused, bewildered, puzzled.