bafflement

UK: /ˈbæf^əlmənt/ US: /ˈbæfəlmənt/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

baf•fle•ment /ˈbæfəlmənt/  n. [uncountable]

1. the state of being baffled:
   His look of complete bafflement showed that he didn't understand English.

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

baf•fle /ˈbæfəl/   v., -fled, -fling, n. 
v. [ ~ + obj]

1. to confuse or bewilder;
   mystify:
   baffled by her odd behavior.

n. [countable]

2. something that slows down, interferes with, or deflects a flow, as of light, etc.

baf•fler, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

baf•fle  (baf′əl), v., -fled, -fling, n. 
v.t. 

1. to confuse, bewilder, or perplex:
   He was baffled by the technical language of the instructions.
2. to frustrate or confound;
   thwart by creating confusion or bewilderment.
3. Building, Sound Reproduction to check or deflect the movement of (sound, light, fluids, etc.).
4. Building to equip with a baffle or baffles.
5. [Obs.] to cheat;
   trick.

v.i. 

6. to struggle ineffectually, as a ship in a gale.

n. 

7. something that balks, checks, or deflects.
8. Building, Sound Reproduction an artificial obstruction for checking or deflecting the flow of gases (as in a boiler), sounds (as in the loudspeaker system of a radio or hi-fi set), light (as in a darkroom), etc.
9. Sound Reproduction any boxlike enclosure or flat panel for mounting a loudspeaker.

• Scots bauchle to disgrace, treat with contempt, equivalent. to bauch (see baff) + -le
• 1540–50; 1910–15 for def. 8; perh.

baf′fle•ment, n. 
baf′fler, n. 
baf′fling, adj. 
baf′fling•ly, adv. 
baf′fling•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See thwart.