baffling
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: Making great mental demands; hard to comprehend, solve, or believe. It describes something that is confusing, perplexing, or extremely difficult to understand.
Usage
The adjective "baffling" is used to describe situations, problems, phenomena, or behavior that are deeply puzzling and resist easy explanation or solution. It often implies a sense of frustration or wonder at the inability to understand.
Examples
- The detective found the complete lack of evidence in the case utterly baffling.
- Scientists are still trying to explain the baffling results of the experiment.
- Her sudden decision to quit her job was baffling to all her colleagues.
- The magician's baffling trick left the entire audience in stunned silence.
Advanced Usage
- "to find something baffling": A common construction expressing personal confusion.
- I find his complete silence on the matter absolutely baffling.
- "baffling in its complexity/simplicity": Used to emphasize the paradoxical nature of what is confusing.
- The instructions were baffling in their simplicity, leaving everyone unsure what to do next.
Variants and Related Words
- Baffle (verb): To confuse, perplex, or frustrate someone completely.
- The sudden change in policy baffled the employees.
- Bafflement (noun): A state of being completely puzzled or confused.
- He stared at the broken machine in utter bafflement.
Synonyms
- Perplexing: Causing confusion or puzzlement.
- Bewildering: Extremely confusing.
- Puzzling: Difficult to understand or explain.
- Incomprehensible: Impossible to understand.
- Enigmatic: Mysterious and difficult to interpret.
Antonyms
- Clear
- Obvious
- Straightforward
- Comprehensible
- Transparent
Idioms and Common Phrases
- A baffling mystery: A mystery that is particularly hard to solve.
- The disappearance of the ancient artifact remains a baffling mystery.
Adjective
- making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe
- a baffling problem
- I faced the knotty problem of what to have for breakfast
- a problematic situation at home