bamboozle

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /bæmˈbuzəl/ UK /bæmˈbuːzəl/ See IPA manual

verb

Meanings

1

verb
to deceive or trick by underhanded means

The con artist bamboozled the widow out of her savings.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to deceive or trick by... deceive trick dupe hoodwink swindle con

Opposites

enlighten undeceive

Word family

Derived forms bamboozlerbamboozlement

Etymology

Of uncertain origin, first recorded around 1700 as slang; possibly from a dialectal bombase ('to confound') or of cant origin.

Topics

Actions & Processes

# bamboozle

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

## Meanings
1. to deceive or trick by underhanded means

## Examples
- The con artist bamboozled the widow out of her savings.

## Synonyms
- deceive
- trick
- dupe
- hoodwink
- swindle
- con

## Antonyms
- enlighten
- undeceive

## Derived Forms
- bamboozler
- bamboozlement

## Etymology
Of uncertain origin, first recorded around 1700 as slang; possibly from a dialectal bombase ('to confound') or of cant origin.

## AI Etymology
Bamboozle is a verb meaning "to deceive or trick by underhanded means". Historically, it is of uncertain origin, first recorded around 1700 as slang; possibly from a dialectal bombase ('to confound') or of cant origin. The older history should therefore be treated cautiously rather than as settled. Close English family members include bamboozler, and bamboozlement. This keeps the modern verb sense tied to the formation history behind it.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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bamboozle

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