# bewildering

/bɪˈwɪɫdɝɪŋ/ (US) · /bɪwˈɪldəɹɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bewildering
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. confusing or complex

adjective · CEFR B2

very confusing or difficult to understand because it is complex or offers too many choices.

For teachers: causing a state of confusion or perplexity; often used to describe a situation with an overwhelming number of variables or options.

- The city's subway system was bewildering for a first-time visitor.
- The new tax legislation presents a bewildering array of clauses that even experienced accountants struggle to interpret correctly.

## Examples

- The new office layout is very bewildering.
- The sudden change in the company's leadership caused a bewildering amount of confusion among the staff.
- The sheer scale of the project was bewildering to the junior engineers, who struggled to grasp how the various components fit together within the larger system.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.