Flummoxing: meaning, definitions and examples

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flummoxing

 

[ ˈflʌməksɪŋ ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

surprising situation

Flummoxing refers to something that is perplexing, bewildering, or confusing. It often describes situations that leave someone feeling puzzled or at a loss for an explanation. It can be used to describe problems, situations, or even people that are difficult to understand or deal with. The term conveys a sense of being thrown into confusion, often due to unexpected circumstances or complexities.

Synonyms

baffling, bewildering, confusing, perplexing

Examples of usage

  • The flummoxing instructions left everyone confused.
  • Her flummoxing response took me by surprise.
  • The flummoxing puzzle took hours to solve.

Translations

Translations of the word "flummoxing" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desconcertante

🇮🇳 भ्रमित करने वाला

🇩🇪 verwirrend

🇮🇩 membingungkan

🇺🇦 заплутуючий

🇵🇱 dekoncentrujący

🇯🇵 混乱させる

🇫🇷 déconcertant

🇪🇸 desconcertante

🇹🇷 şaşırtıcı

🇰🇷 혼란스러운

🇸🇦 مرتبك

🇨🇿 zmatený

🇸🇰 zmätený

🇨🇳 令人困惑的

🇸🇮 zmedeno

🇮🇸 rugla

🇰🇿 шатасқан

🇬🇪 ჩახლართულ

🇦🇿 çaşqın

🇲🇽 desconcertante

Word origin

The word 'flummox' first appeared in the early 19th century in British dialect. It is believed to have originated from the dialectal word 'flummock,' which refers to the act of making something dirty or muddy, indicating a sense of confusion or disorder. Over time, the term evolved to represent a state of bafflement or perplexity. The addition of the suffix '-ing' transformed it into an adjective describing something that causes confusion. The usage of 'flummoxing' has gained popularity in both spoken and written English, often used in informal contexts to emphasize the bewilderment caused by a situation.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #43,492, this word is among the least frequently used in common English. Understanding it can be beneficial for comprehensive language mastery, but it's not essential for most learners.