Word
baffling
Phoneticsbaf·fling
US/ˈbæfəɫɪŋ/
UK/bˈæflɪŋ/
Definition
adj. extremely confusing and impossible to understand. You use this when something is so strange or complicated that you cannot find an explanation for it.
adj. impossible to understand; causing extreme confusion or perplexity. Often used to describe complex problems, strange behavior, or inexplicable events.
Examples
“The instructions for this game are completely baffling.”
“Detectives found the lack of evidence at the crime scene baffling, as there were no signs of forced entry.”
“The sudden collapse of the ancient civilization remains a baffling mystery to archaeologists, who have found no evidence of war, famine, or natural disaster to explain the exodus.”
Examples
simple
“The instructions for this game are completely baffling.”
contextual
“Detectives found the lack of evidence at the crime scene baffling, as there were no signs of forced entry.”
complex
“The sudden collapse of the ancient civilization remains a baffling mystery to archaeologists, who have found no evidence of war, famine, or natural disaster to explain the exodus.”
Usage
Often follows a linking verb like 'be', 'seem', or 'find'.
Real-World Examples
“Ratzon concludes: "The Qumran calendar has long been regarded as one of the Qumran sect's defining features, but also as one of the most baffling mysteries of the Dead Sea Scrolls.” “But they rely on mathematicians to check their – often sloppy and baffling – work, and to tell them if it is useful and how it might be applied.” “Poetry can be baffling; it can refuse to unfurl all of itself to the reader.” “For some baffling reason Spain is obsessed with baby perfume.”