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Bamboozled: meaning, definitions and examples

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bamboozled

 

[ bæmˈbuː.zəld ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

deception, trickery

To bamboozle someone means to deceive or trick them, often in a playful or cunning manner. It implies a sense of mischief and cleverness in the act of misleading someone. The term can suggest that the person fooled is left feeling confused or bewildered by the situation. Often used in informal contexts, bamboozling can imply an element of fun or humor in the deception.

Synonyms

deceive, dupe, fool, mislead, trick

Examples of usage

  • She felt bamboozled by the magician's tricks.
  • He bamboozled his friends into thinking he won the lottery.
  • I was completely bamboozled by the complex instructions.
  • They bamboozled the audience with their clever jokes.

Translations

Translations of the word "bamboozled" in other languages:

🇵🇹 enganado

🇮🇳 धोखा दिया गया

🇩🇪 hereingelegt

🇮🇩 ditipu

🇺🇦 обманутий

🇵🇱 oszukany

🇯🇵 騙された

🇫🇷 duper

🇪🇸 engañado

🇹🇷 kandırılmış

🇰🇷 속은

🇸🇦 مخدوع

🇨🇿 oškubán

🇸🇰 oškerený

🇨🇳 被欺骗

🇸🇮 prevaren

🇮🇸 svikinn

🇰🇿 алдау

🇬🇪 დამალული

🇦🇿 aldadılmış

🇲🇽 engañado

Etymology

The word 'bamboozled' has an interesting etymology with roots in the early 18th century. It is believed to have originated from the term 'bamboozle', which first appeared in print around 1703. The precise origin of 'bamboozle' is uncertain, but it is thought to derive from the earlier word 'bamboozle' or the combination of 'bamboo' referring to the plant and 'boozle', a Scottish term for 'to confuse'. The playful and whimsical nature of the word has allowed it to remain popular in colloquial English, often used in humorous contexts. Over time, it has evolved to encapsulate not just deception, but also the surprise and delight that can accompany being tricked or misled.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,194, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.