1 bemused | Definition of bemused

bemused

adjective
be·​mused | \ bi-ˈmyüzd How to pronounce bemused (audio) , bē-\

Definition of bemused

1 : marked by confusion or bewilderment : dazed … he was fumbling with the sheets, and looking down at them with a slightly bemused expression as though the stuff before him was in a foreign language …— Robert Penn Warren
2 : lost in thought or reverie … as distant and bemused as a Professor Emeritus listening to the prattling of his freshman class.— Michael Straight
3 : having or showing feelings of wry amusement especially from something that is surprising or perplexing This is not another of those now popular books about a bemused outsider's sojourn in rural France, brimming with colorful locals and heart-warming anecdotes.— J. D. McClatchy

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Other Words from bemused

bemusedly \ bi-​ˈmyü-​zəd-​lē How to pronounce bemusedly (audio) , bē-​ \ adverb
Harry looked bemusedly at the photograph Colin was brandishing under his nose. — J. K. Rowling

Examples of bemused in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The British and French official policy of bemused neutrality in the civil war left the field open for Stalin and Hitler to intervene. — David Pryce-jones, National Review, "The Cold War of Words," 22 Aug. 2019 Though her candidacy was initially treated as a joke—not least because of her Long Island lock-jaw accent (despite being from Texas)—commentators have started to discuss Williamson with a bemused respect. — Ed Simon, The New Republic, "Marianne Williamson’s Spiritualism Has Deep, Liberal Roots," 7 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bemused.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of bemused

1734, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More from Merriam-Webster on bemused

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bemused

Nglish: Translation of bemused for Spanish Speakers

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