bemused
3 synonyms for bemused, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Confused and unable to make sense of something.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
Confused and unable to make sense of something.
“He gave a bemused shrug when asked to explain the rules.”
2. adjective
Lost in thought and paying little attention to what is around.
“He sat in a bemused silence, staring out of the window.”
How to use bemused
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Bemused is neutral in tone and fits both everyday speech and formal writing.
Etymology
Bemused began as the past participle of the verb bemuse, and this form is now the one most commonly used, functioning as an adjective in its own right.
Full origin of bemused →