Baffling — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun verb /ˈba-f(ə-)liŋ/ baf·fling

Meaning & Definition of Baffling

Baffling (adjective)

  1. extremely confusing or difficult to understand

Baffling (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in confusing, perplexing

    similar: bewildering, confounding, confused, confusing, disordered, disorderly, disorganized, muddled, perplexing, puzzling, unorganized, choppy, disconnected, disjointed, incoherent, unconnected, disconcerting, frustrating, fallacious, illogical, inconsistent, invalid, irrational, unsound, absurd, asinine, bizarre, curious, eccentric, foolish, odd, outlandish, outré, peculiar, screwy, strange, unreasonable, unusual, weird, meaningless, nonsensical, nutty, preposterous, ridiculous, senseless, silly, unconvincing, inexplicable, unaccountable, unexplainable
    opposite: coherent, connected, ordered, orderly, organized, systematic, systematized, logical, rational, reasonable, sensible, solid, sound, valid, cogent, compelling, convincing, persuasive, plausible, satisfying, clear, clear-cut, lucid, perspicuous, transparent, unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable

Baffling (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in frustration, thwarting

    similar: balking, checkmate, crossing, debarment, determent, deterrence, foiling, frustration, thwarting, negation, neutralization, nullification, barring, enjoining, forbidding, interdicting, interdiction, outlawing, prohibiting, prohibition, proscribing, proscription, avoidance, circumvention, averting, forestallment, precluding, prevention
    opposite: aid, assistance, backing, support, facilitation, advancement, cultivation, encouragement, nurture, promotion

Baffling (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to prevent from achieving a goal

    "the language barrier baffled everyone and discouraged us from attempting another teleconference"

    similar: balking, beating, checkmating, discomfiting, foiling, frustrating, thwarting
    related: barring, blocking, clogging, encumbering, fettering, hampering, handicapping, hindering, hobbling, holding back, impeding, inhibiting, interfering (with), manacling, obstructing, shackling, trammeling, tying up, arresting, checking, halting, setting back, short-circuiting, stalling, stopping, averting, forestalling, obviating, precluding, preventing, negating, neutralizing, nullifying, counteracting, offsetting, conquering, defeating, overcoming
    opposite: advancing, cultivating, encouraging, forwarding, fostering, furthering, nurturing, promoting
    near: abetting, aiding, assisting, easing, facilitating, smoothing

  2. to throw into a state of mental uncertainty

    "she was baffled by the wording of the clause in the insurance policy"

    similar: addling, bamboozling, beating, befogging, befuddling, bemusing, bewildering, buffaloing, confounding, confusing, discombobulating, disorienting, flummoxing, foxing, fuddling, getting, graveling, mazing, muddling, muddying, mystifying, perplexing, posing, puzzling, vexing, blowing one's mind, going to one's head
    related: sticking, stumping, weirding out, abashing, discomfiting, disconcerting, discountenancing, embarrassing, fazing, flustering, mortifying, nonplussing, rattling, agitating, bothering, chagrining, discomforting, discomposing, dismaying, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, stunning, unhinging, unsettling, upsetting, beguiling, cozening, deceiving, deluding, duping, fooling, gulling, hoaxing, hoodwinking, humbugging, misguiding, misleading, snowing, stringing along, taking in, tricking
    near: assuring, reassuring, satisfying, enlightening, informing

Related Entry: Baffle (verb)

Baffle is a different word from Baffling. The synonyms below are for baffle, not for baffling.

  1. to prevent from achieving a goal

    "the language barrier baffled everyone and discouraged us from attempting another teleconference"

    similar: balk, beat, checkmate, discomfit, foil, frustrate, thwart
    related: bar, block, clog, encumber, fetter, hamper, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, tie up, trammel, arrest, check, halt, set back, short-circuit, stall, stop, avert, forestall, obviate, preclude, prevent, negate, neutralize, nullify, counteract, offset, conquer, defeat, overcome
    opposite: advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nurture, promote
    near: abet, aid, assist, ease, facilitate, smooth

  2. to throw into a state of mental uncertainty

    "she was baffled by the wording of the clause in the insurance policy"

    similar: addle, bamboozle, beat, befog, befuddle, bemuse, bewilder, buffalo, confound, confuse, discombobulate, disorient, flummox, fox, fuddle, get, gravel, maze, muddle, muddy, mystify, perplex, pose, puzzle, vex, blow one's mind, go to one's head
    related: stick, stump, weird out, abash, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle, agitate, bother, chagrin, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, stun, unhinge, unsettle, upset, beguile, cozen, deceive, delude, dupe, fool, gull, hoax, hoodwink, humbug, misguide, mislead, snow, string along, take in, trick
    near: assure, reassure, satisfy, enlighten, inform

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Baffling

The most common words with a similar meaning to Baffling:

bewildering, confounding, confused, confusing, disordered, disorderly, disorganized, muddled, perplexing, puzzling, unorganized, choppy, disconnected, disjointed, incoherent, unconnected, disconcerting, frustrating, fallacious, illogical, inconsistent, invalid, irrational, unsound, absurd, asinine, bizarre, curious, eccentric, foolish, odd, outlandish, outré, peculiar, screwy, strange, unreasonable, unusual, weird, meaningless

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Baffling

Words with the opposite meaning of Baffling:

coherent, connected, ordered, orderly, organized, systematic, systematized, logical, rational, reasonable, sensible, solid, sound, valid, cogent, compelling, convincing, persuasive, plausible, satisfying, clear, clear-cut, lucid, perspicuous, transparent, unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable, aid, assistance

Related Words for Baffling

blocking, clogging, encumbering, fettering, hampering, handicapping, hindering, hobbling, holding back, impeding, inhibiting, interfering (with), manacling, obstructing, shackling, trammeling, tying up, arresting, checking, halting, setting back, short-circuiting, stalling, stopping, forestalling, obviating, preventing, negating, neutralizing, nullifying

Near Antonyms of Baffling

abetting, aiding, assisting, easing, facilitating, smoothing, assuring, reassuring, enlightening, informing

Word Forms of Baffling

Derived words: bafflingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Baffling

First known use: 1783

Frequently Asked Questions about Baffling

What does "Baffling" mean?

"Baffling" means extremely confusing or difficult to understand. As an an adjective, a noun and a verb, it is defined as: extremely confusing or difficult to understand. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Baffling"?

Other words for "Baffling" include bewildering, confounding, confused, confusing, disordered, disorderly, disorganized and muddled. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Baffling" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Baffling"?

There are 178 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Baffling". Common alternatives include bewildering, confounding, confused, confusing, disordered, disorderly, disorganized, muddled, perplexing and puzzling.

What is the opposite of "Baffling"?

Antonyms of "Baffling" include coherent, connected, ordered, orderly, organized, systematic, systematized and logical. Near antonyms include abetting, aiding, assisting and easing.

How do you use "Baffling" in a sentence?

Examples of "Baffling" in a sentence: "the language barrier baffled everyone and discouraged us from attempting another teleconference"; "she was baffled by the wording of the clause in the insurance policy".

Is "Baffling" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Baffling" can be used as an adjective, a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Baffling"?

"Baffling" is pronounced /ˈba-f(ə-)liŋ/ and divided into syllables as baf·fling.

What is the origin of the word "Baffling"?

First known use: 1783.