baffle

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈbæfəl/ UK /ˈbæfəl/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to confuse or perplex; a device that restrains flow or sound

The disappearance continued to baffle investigators.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to confuse or perplex; a... confuse perplex puzzle bewilder mystify confound

Opposites

enlighten clarify

Word family

Derived forms bafflementbafflerbaffling

Appears in

Proverbs (1)

See all

If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with B.S.

Etymology

Of uncertain origin, perhaps from Scots bauchle ('to subject to public disgrace') or related to Old French bafouer ('to deceive, mock').

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# baffle

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈbæfəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈbæfəl/

## Meanings
1. to confuse or perplex; a device that restrains flow or sound

## Examples
- The disappearance continued to baffle investigators.

## Synonyms
- confuse
- perplex
- puzzle
- bewilder
- mystify
- confound

## Antonyms
- enlighten
- clarify

## Derived Forms
- bafflement
- baffler
- baffling

## Etymology
Of uncertain origin, perhaps from Scots bauchle ('to subject to public disgrace') or related to Old French bafouer ('to deceive, mock').

## AI Etymology
Baffle is of uncertain origin, perhaps from Scots bauchle ('to subject to public disgrace') or related to Old French bafouer ('to deceive, mock'). Its deeper history remains uncertain, with proposed links left as possibilities rather than a single settled derivation. The current sense covers to confuse or perplex; a device that restrains flow or sound. The wider family includes derived forms such as bafflement, baffler, and baffling.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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