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baffleto confuse someone completely; to be too difficult or strange for someone to understand

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to confuse someone completely; to be too difficult or strange for someone to understand

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈbæf.əl/

Example Sentences

  • The cat's ability to always land on its feet baffles physicists worldwide.
  • His sudden disappearance from social media baffled his friends.
  • The magic trick was so good that it baffled even the other magicians.

baffle

VERB

[/ˈbæf.əl/]

to confuse someone completely; to be too difficult or strange for someone to understand

The smart detective was completely baffled to find the muddy footprints walking across the ceiling.
💡 Concept

The smart detective was completely baffled to find the muddy footprints walking across the ceiling.

BUFF(muscular) + FLEA(bug) — watching a highly BUFF FLEA bench-press a gold coin completely baffled the scientist.
🧠 Mnemonic

BUFF(muscular) + FLEA(bug) — watching a highly BUFF FLEA bench-press a gold coin completely baffled the scientist.

Expecting a sweet breakfast waffle, he received a live crab that began to completely baffle him.
🎵 Rhyme

Expecting a sweet breakfast waffle, he received a live crab that began to completely baffle him.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈbæf.əl/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈbæf.əl/

🌳Etymology

Rootbaffle

Origin

From Scottish French 'baffle' or 'baffler', possibly related to Old French 'bafer' meaning 'to mock' or 'to deceive'. The word entered English in the 16th century with the sense of 'to confuse' or 'to perplex'.

Breakdown

baffle (noun/verb root) - no common morpheme breakdown; the word is a simple root borrowed from French, though 'baffle' as a standalone morpheme means 'to confuse or perplex'

🎵Rhyme

rafflewaffle
raffle
waffle

🔗Collocations

baffle scientists
completely baffled
baffle experts
sound baffle
baffle plates
remain baffled

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

The cat's ability to always land on its feet baffles physicists worldwide.

His sudden disappearance from social media baffled his friends.

The magic trick was so good that it baffled even the other magicians.

😄 Fun example

Why people put pineapple on pizza continues to baffle food critics.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

confuseperplexpuzzlemystifybewilder

Antonyms

clarifyexplainenlighten

Related

confoundstumpflummoxbamboozle

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