bə̇, bē+ transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: be- + fuddle
1. : to dull, muddle, or stupefy
a mind befuddled with fatigue
the old doctor is befuddled with drink all the time — Ellen Glasgow
2. : to throw into confusion or perplexity : puzzle
the problem befuddled the experts
• be·fud·dle·ment -mənt noun -s