Synonyms for bewilderment
Most common
All synonyms
Noun
1. Confusion
confusion, bafflement, consternation, perplexity, befuddlement, puzzlement, bemusement, amazement, astonishment, mystification, embarrassment, wonder, surprise, head-scratching, quandary, distraction, obfuscation formal, puzzle, maze dated
Definitions
- n. 1
The state of being bewildered.
She looked around in bewilderment.
Forms
- Plural
- bewilderments → confusions, bafflements, consternations, perplexities…
Choose the right word
Amazement has in it something of confusion or bewilderment; but confusion and bewilderment may occur without amazement, as when a multitude of details require instant attention. Astonishment may be without bewilderment or confusion.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- confusion He disappeared, taking advantage of the confusion.
- consternation Tom looked in consternation at the stain on his shirt.
- perplexity He laughed heartily at my perplexity.
- daze When I first got to New York, I was in a daze.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| bewilderment | rising | |
| confusion | steady | |
| consternation | rising | |
| perplexity | rising | |
| bafflement | rising | |
| daze | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- mist1, maze1, daze1
- 6 letters
- wonder2, puzzle2
- 8 letters
- surprise2, quandary3
- 9 letters
- confusion3, amazement3
- 10 letters
- puzzlement3, perplexity4, bemusement3, bafflement
- 11 letters
- distraction3, obfuscation4
- 12 letters
- astonishment4, befuddlement
- 13 letters
- embarrassment4, consternation4, mystification
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (wonder2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- abasourdissement