befuddle
bih-FUD-ulverbMeaning to muddle someone’s thinking; to confuse
Memory hook be-FUDDLE: a PUDDLE of MUDDLE. Dev’s new video game has a hundred rules. His thoughts turn into a puddle of muddle, and his player keeps walking into walls. The game befuddles him.
The long list of rules befuddled the new players.
In context The riddle seemed simple, but its twist befuddled Kai; he said the answer was “Tuesday,” then “a candle,” then gave up and asked for a hint.
Similar confuse, muddle, bewilder, fog
Opposite clarify, enlighten
From be- (thoroughly) + fuddle, an old word meaning “to confuse.”