US /bɪˈmjuz/ UK /bɪˈmjuːz/
verb

Meanings

  1. 1
    verb

    to bewilder or confuse, often mildly

    The cryptic instructions bemused the new employees.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 verb · to bewilder or confuse,... bewilderconfuseperplexbefuddlepuzzlemuddle
Opposites
Word family
Derived forms bemusedbemusementbemusing
Related forms museamuse

Etymology

From be- (intensive) + muse ('to ponder'), coined in the early 18th century, ultimately from Old French muser ('to ponder, loiter').

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Topics

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