Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

befuddle

/bɪˈfʌdl/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.49 in modern English

Syllables: be-fud-dle
IPA: /bɪˈfʌdl/

15

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To perplex, confuse (someone).

Transitive verb

verb

To stupefy (someone), especially with alcohol.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"The explanation left him completely befuddled."
"Slowly the ape-man picked out the meaning of the various combinations of letters on the printed page, and as he read, the little bugs, for as such he always thought of the letters, commenced to run about in a most confusing manner, blurring his vision and befuddling his thoughts."
"[…] to the American and French alcoholics, who drink in order to get drunk and befuddle the brain"

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h₁épsder. Proto-Indo-European *h₁épider. Proto-Indo-European *h₁pi Proto-Germanic *bider. Proto-Germanic *bi- Proto-West Germanic *bi- Old English be- Middle English bi- English be- English fuddle English befuddle From be- + fuddle.

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /bɪˈfʌdl/

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

befuddles (present, singular) befuddling (participle, present) befuddled (participle, past) befuddled (past)

Derived Forms

befuddled befuddlement befuddler befuddling befuzzle confuddle

Synonyms

addle baffle vex lose embroil stick stump baffound bamboozle bedevil befuddle throw

Rhymes With

cuddle puddle huddle muddle udell trudell ruddell ruddle confuddle

Questions

How do you pronounce befuddle?: The recorded pronunciation is /bɪˈfʌdl/.
What does befuddle mean?: To perplex, confuse (someone).
Where does befuddle come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h₁épsder. Proto-Indo-European *h₁épider. Proto-Indo-European *h₁pi Proto-Germanic *bider. Proto-Germanic *bi- Proto-West Germanic *bi- Old English be- Middle English bi- English be- English fuddle English befuddle From be- + fuddle.

How to pronounce befuddle

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “befuddle”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/bɪˈfʌdl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “befuddle” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.