baffling

1 of 2

adjective

baf·​fling ˈba-f(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce baffling (audio)
Synonyms of baffling
: extremely confusing or difficult to understand
a baffling decision
found the directions utterly baffling
bafflingly adverb
a bafflingly complex explanation

baffling

2 of 2

present participle of baffle entry 1

Examples of baffling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Of course, his recognition of the visceral power of live music and directly connecting with an audience makes his indifference to AI all the more baffling. — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2026 Television was ostensibly a venue where Friday could finally live again, but what we’ve been left with is a baffling mess that doesn’t seem to understand what fans love about these characters. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026 That novel is often considered a historical novel by readers and critics, which is slightly baffling to me. — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026 My daughter, Sophie Rottenberg, had a short and baffling health crisis that might have been a mental illness borne of hormonal dysregulation, or the inverse. — Laura Reiley, Vanity Fair, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for baffling

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1783, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of baffling was in 1783

Browse Nearby Words

baffler
baffling
baffling wind
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Baffling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baffling. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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