flummox

verb

flum·​mox ˈflə-məks How to pronounce flummox (audio)
-miks
flummoxed; flummoxing; flummoxes

transitive verb

: confuse
He was flummoxed by the legal jargon.
a hapless innocent who had been flummoxed by wily city slickersAndy Logan

Did you know?

No one is completely sure where the word flummox comes from, but Charles Dickens was aware of it and used it in his 1837 novel The Pickwick Papers. It became quite common in both British and American English by the end of the 19th century.

Examples of flummox in a Sentence

an actor who's easily flummoxed by any changes in the script
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The former appears somewhat flummoxed by his material, guessing as to what kind of comic energy or tone would work. Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025 Rutherford makes Agathe appear at once hypervigilant and flummoxed, and perhaps this is the truest Austen touch in the movie. Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 21 May 2025 The narrative of the elder statesman finding something deep within to try and flummox the young buck is gripping. Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025 Listen to this article New Yorkers looking to make a reverse commute into the Garden State were flummoxed on Friday, hours after NJ Transit’s 450 engineers went on strike in the early morning hours over a long-running wage dispute. Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for flummox

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of flummox was in 1836

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Cite this Entry

“Flummox.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flummox. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

flummox

verb
flum·​mox
ˈfləm-əks
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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