BEFUDDLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does befuddle mean? 

• BEFUDDLE (verb)
  The verb BEFUDDLE has 2 senses:

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

2. make stupid with alcohol

  Familiarity information: BEFUDDLE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BEFUDDLE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they befuddle    ... he / she / it befuddles   
Past simple: befuddled   
Past participle: befuddled   
-ing form: befuddling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

bedevil; befuddle; confound; confuse; discombobulate; fox; fuddle; throw

Context example:

This question befuddled even the teacher

Hypernyms (to "befuddle" is one way to...):

be (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun))

Verb group:

confuse; disconcert; flurry; put off (cause to feel embarrassment)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "befuddle"):

demoralize (confuse or put into disorder)

amaze; baffle; beat; bewilder; dumbfound; flummox; get; gravel; mystify; nonplus; perplex; pose; puzzle; stick; stupefy; vex (be a mystery or bewildering to)

disorient; disorientate (cause to be lost or disoriented)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

befuddlement (confusion resulting from failure to understand)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make stupid with alcohol

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Synonyms:

befuddle; fuddle

Hypernyms (to "befuddle" is one way to...):

inebriate; intoxicate; soak (make drunk (with alcoholic drinks))

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

 Context examples 

But it was the multiplicity of laws that befuddled White Fang and often brought him into disgrace.

(White Fang, by Jack London)