baffled; baffling
ˈba-f(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to defeat or check (someone) by confusing or puzzling : to confuse or frustrate completely : disconcert
Her behavior baffled her parents.
2
: to check or break the force or flow of by or as if by a baffle (see baffle entry 2)
baffle the steam
: a device (such as a plate, wall, or screen) to deflect, check, or regulate flow or passage (as of a fluid, light, or sound)
Examples of baffle in a Sentence
Verb
I was baffled by many of the scientific terms used in the article.
the language barrier baffled everyone and discouraged us from attempting another teleconference
Recent Examples on the Web
Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
But there were strengths here, too, none more than England’s impervious Lazarus complex, that baffling inability to know when one is in a state of emergency.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2025
An egg carton makes an excellent sandal, and the baffles of a beach ball can quickly become a striking rainbow clog.
—Corey Buhay, Outside, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for baffle
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Verb
One morning, members of the Fort Greely missile defense base spot an ICBM of unknown origin on a suborbital trajectory heading straight for Chicago, baffling the country’s top intelligence and defense teams who only have 18 minutes to respond before impact.
—Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
But there were strengths here, too, none more than England’s impervious Lazarus complex, that baffling inability to know when one is in a state of emergency.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
How Often To Clean A Range Hood Filter Range hood filters are standardly made of aluminum mesh, but some high-end models have steel or aluminum baffles.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2025
An egg carton makes an excellent sandal, and the baffles of a beach ball can quickly become a striking rainbow clog.
—Corey Buhay, Outside, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for baffle
Cite this Entry
“Baffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baffle. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
baffle
1 of 2 verb
baf·fle
ˈbaf-əl
baffled; baffling
ˈbaf-(ə-)liŋ
1
: to defeat or check by confusing : perplex
2
: to check or break the force or flow of by or as if by a baffle
baffle
2 of 2 noun
: a device (as a wall or screen) to turn aside, check, or regulate flow (as of a fluid, light, or sound)
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