# bewilderment

/bɪˈwɪɫdɝmənt/ (US) · /bɪwˈɪldəmənt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bewilderment
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

great confusion when you cannot understand what is happening around you.

For teachers: complete confusion or disorientation caused by something unexpected, complex, or hard to understand. Often triggered by contradictory information or sudden change.

## Examples

- She stares at the map in total bewilderment.
- The tourists look around the busy station in bewilderment when their train is cancelled without warning.
- He watched the debate unfold with growing bewilderment, unable to reconcile the calm statistics on the screen with the anger rising in the room.

## Synonyms

confusion, perplexity, disorientation, bafflement, puzzlement, bemusement

## Antonyms

understanding, clarity

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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.