1
general::
confused
unable to understand what someone is saying or what is happening:
• I was rather confused by his question. • She gave me a confused look. • With the huge range of computers on the market, it’s easy to get confused. • She felt hurt and confused when her husband left her.
puzzled
( also perplexed formal ) confused because you cannot understand something, especially because it is different from what you expect:
• The doctor was puzzled by the man’s symptoms and ordered several further tests. • He had a puzzled expression on his face. • Ross looked perplexed when the audience laughed.
baffled
very confused and unable to understand something, even though you have tried hard for a long time:
• Detectives admit they are baffled by the case. • a baffled expression
bewildered
very confused and surprised when something unusual and unexpected happens to you:
• He was bewildered to find three policemen at the front door. • Bewildered train passengers watched as the man was arrested. • At first she was bewildered by all the noise and activity of the city.
bemused
confused and surprised by what has happened, or by what someone has said:
• Local residents seem bemused by the sudden arrival of all the tourists. • She told him to leave, but he just sat there with a bemused expression.
can’t think straight
spoken to have difficulty thinking clearly, for example because you are too tired, too busy, or because a lot of things are happening around you:
• I can’t think straight with all this noise going on.
Longman-Thesaurus
2
general::
adj. VERBS appear, be, feel, look, seem, sound | become, get He was beginning to get rather confused. | remain | leave sb He left his audience thoroughly confused. ADV. extremely, highly, hopelessly, very a highly confused picture of a complex situation | completely, thoroughly, totally, utterly | increasingly | a bit, a little, rather, slightly, somewhat | momentarily George paused, momentarily confused. PREP. about He was very confused about his feelings. | by I'm confused by the whole thing.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary