WordGarden.iobafflement
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /bˈæfəlmənt/
US
- /bˈæfəlmənt/
Meanings
Noun
a state of confusion or puzzled incomprehension
Beyond the definition
Bafflement isn't just being confused; it's a deeper kind of puzzlement that leaves you utterly stumped. Imagine a magician performing a trick so clever, so unexpected, that all you can do is stare with bafflement. It's the feeling when a riddle has no obvious answer, or a situation makes absolutely no sense. A detective might face bafflement when a crucial clue disappears, and a child might experience bafflement trying to understand why the sky is blue. Bafflement often implies a bit of helplessness – you're not just unsure, you're stuck!
Bafflement describes a state of total confusion or perplexity, going beyond simple misunderstanding. It suggests being utterly bewildered and unable to comprehend something. While "confusion" might be a temporary feeling of uncertainty, bafflement is more profound – it's a sense of being completely at a loss for explanation.
You might encounter bafflement when faced with complex problems, illogical situations, or unexpected events. A scientist might express bafflement over an anomaly in their experiment, while a traveler could experience bafflement navigating a foreign city with no map. It's often accompanied by a feeling of helplessness and frustration.
The word carries a slightly literary tone, suggesting a more intense and dramatic level of confusion than everyday terms like "puzzled" or "confused." You're likely to find it in descriptions of mysteries, intricate plots, or characters grappling with difficult concepts. For example: "The detective stared at the crime scene with complete bafflement; nothing made sense." Or, "Her sudden change of heart filled him with bafflement."
Think of a labyrinth – wandering through its twists and turns can easily lead to bafflement. So when something leaves you utterly perplexed and unable to make head or tail of it, that's bafflement. It's the feeling of being truly lost in a sea of confusion.
Examples
- 1
Everyday confusion
She stared at the map in bafflement for a few seconds.
- 2
Facial expression
His face showed real bafflement when he heard the question.
- 3
Public reaction
Reporters expressed bafflement at the mayor's sudden change of plan.
- Patternexpress bafflement at + event/decision
say that it is confusing
- 4
Strange discovery
To everyone's bafflement, the missing keys were in the freezer.
- Phraseto everyone's bafflement
in a way that confused everyone
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- look of bafflement
- in bafflement
- complete bafflement
Word family
Explore
- confusion
- cognitive dissonance
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- bafflementnoun