Baffle/ˈbæfl/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Unexpected Situations Use 'baffle' when something is so confusing it's hard to make sense of. The magician's trick baffled the entire audience. Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Surprised 'Baffle' implies being puzzled deeply, more than just being momentarily surprised. The sudden change in policy baffled the employees. Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Response When 'baffled,' a person often feels a mix of surprise and frustration. I was completely baffled by the ending of the movie.