BEMUSE Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

bemuse

verb

bi-ˈmyüz

Definition of bemuse

as in to interest

to hold the attention of a public that seemed more bemused by the shenanigans of celebrities than by a war being waged half a world away

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to bewilder

to throw into a state of mental uncertainty the stage mishap momentarily bemused the actress

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of bemuse Needless to say, Ben Shelton (who ended up winning the men’s event) and his opponent Karen Khachanov were bemused by the interruption. — Max Gao, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2025 Audiences bemused, delighted, hoodwinked theatrically, hoodwinked for real. — Anne Carson, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2025 Cue a wave of gags in which Hank is bemused by everything from boba to hybrid-car engines to all-gender bathrooms. — Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 4 Aug. 2025 Kylie — who was also in attendance at the taping, appeared utterly bemused by the life-sized re-creation of her children’s drawing. — Toria Sheffield, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bemuse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bemuse

Verb

With your background in documentaries, what interests you in that tension, particularly right now?

— Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Clearly there’s something about the relationship between audience and performer that interests you.

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of interest

Verb

Many Eagles players were concerned and bewildered by the development.

— Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Latif is conflicted by his double life, bewildered by his doubling of parental responsibilities, constantly trying to think two moves ahead yet always ending up three steps behind.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of bewilder

Verb

Dumas was intrigued as Hermès was dealing with a generational crisis of how to evolve the company without losing its core customers.

— Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026
What intrigues you about taking this fish, who’s been out of water, and throwing him back into familiar waters?

— Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of intrigue

Verb

At Telluride, Fielder, who had initially planned to stay behind the scenes, admitted he was still perplexed by the couple’s openness.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
They were perplexed at first, flummoxed, but pleasant, and unfortunately for them, already long gone from the airport.

— Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of perplex

Verb

The reaction to this movie fascinates me, starting in Cannes.

— Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 12 Oct. 2026
In 2008, passionate surfer Tim Russo purchased the property, renamed it, and set out to organically grow it into a resort full of wonder where serious surfers and travelers fascinated with the surf lifestyle could vacation happily.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of fascinate

Verb

But Danny Niemela, a contractor at ArDan Construction, says that the process baffles him.

— Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 15 Oct. 2026
Beyond being frustrated with the secrecy, locals said they were baffled by the lack of specifics and clarity the stakeholders had about the project, per the records.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of baffle

Browse Nearby Words

bemoans

bemuse

bemused

See all Nearby Words

Articles Related to bemuse

Cite this Entry

Style

“Bemuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bemuse. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of bemuse

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Skunked Words

Can 'bemuse' mean 'amuse'?

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes