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bewilderto confuse someone completely; to cause someone to become perplexed and confused

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to confuse someone completely; to cause someone to become perplexed and confused

Pronunciation (IPA): /bɪˈwɪldər/

Example Sentences

  • The magic trick bewildered the children, who couldn't figure out how the rabbit disappeared.
  • My grandmother was bewildered by the smartphone - she kept trying to hang up by slamming it down.
  • The complex instructions bewildered even the experienced engineers.

bewilder

VERB

[/bɪˈwɪldər/]

to confuse someone completely; to cause someone to become perplexed and confused

The strange map completely bewilders the lost hikers in the foggy forest.
💡 Concept

The strange map completely bewilders the lost hikers in the foggy forest.

Be wilder than wild - totally bewildered and confused!
🧠 Mnemonic

Be wilder than wild - totally bewildered and confused!

The bewildered builder watches his design grow wilder!
🎵 Rhyme

The bewildered builder watches his design grow wilder!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/bɪˈwɪldər/
🇬🇧 UK/bɪˈwɪldə(r)/

🌳Etymology

Prefixbe--
Rootwilder

Origin

From the prefix 'be-' (meaning to make or cause to be) combined with 'wilder,' which comes from Middle English and likely derives from Old English 'wilde' meaning wild or uncontrolled. The word emerged in the 16th century to describe the state of being lost or confused.

Breakdown

be- (to make or cause) + wilder (to lead astray, lose one's way) = bewilder (to confuse or perplex completely)

🎵Rhyme

builderwildergilder
builder
wilder
gilder

🔗Collocations

bewilder completely
bewildered expression
bewilder the audience
utterly bewildered
bewilder with complexity

📝Examples

The magic trick bewildered the children, who couldn't figure out how the rabbit disappeared.

😄 Fun example

My grandmother was bewildered by the smartphone - she kept trying to hang up by slamming it down.

The complex instructions bewildered even the experienced engineers.

😄 Fun example

The cat was bewildered when it saw its reflection in the mirror and started fighting with itself.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

confuseperplexpuzzlebafflemystify

Antonyms

clarifyenlightenexplain

Related

bewildermentbewilderedbewilderingconfusionperplexity

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