befuddle C2+ Topic:Mind & Cognition US /bɪˈfʌdəl/ UK /bɪˈfʌdəl/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 verb to confuse or muddle the mind The convoluted instructions only befuddled the new recruits. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to confuse or muddle the mind confusemuddlebewilderperplexflusterdisorientbaffle ↔ Opposites clarifyenlightenclear Word family Forms befuddled Derived forms befuddledbefuddlingbefuddlement Related forms fuddle Etymology AI details From the intensive prefix be- + fuddle ('to confuse, intoxicate'). Fuddle is of obscure origin, attested from the late 16th century, perhaps imitative. be- Old English View etymology graph -> Topics Mind & Cognition External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # befuddle **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /bɪˈfʌdəl/ **IPA (UK):** /bɪˈfʌdəl/ ## Meanings 1. to confuse or muddle the mind ## Examples - The convoluted instructions only befuddled the new recruits. ## Synonyms - confuse - muddle - bewilder - perplex - fluster - disorient - baffle ## Antonyms - clarify - enlighten - clear ## Derived Forms - befuddled - befuddling - befuddlement ## Related Forms - fuddle ## Roots and Affixes - Root: be- ## Etymology From the intensive prefix be- + fuddle ('to confuse, intoxicate'). Fuddle is of obscure origin, attested from the late 16th century, perhaps imitative. ## AI Etymology Befuddle is a verb meaning "to confuse or muddle the mind". Historically, it is from the intensive prefix be- + fuddle ('to confuse, intoxicate'). Fuddle is of obscure origin, attested from the late 16th century, perhaps imitative. The visible construction is part of the etymology: befuddle is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain is anchored in Old English be-. Close English family members include befuddled, befuddling, befuddlement, and fuddle. ## Topics - Mind & Cognition markdown