bafflement

From baffle +‎ -ment.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈbaf(ə)lmənt/

bafflement (countable and uncountable, plural bafflements)

1. (uncountable) The result or state of being baffled, confused, or puzzled.

   Synonym: baffle

   • 1920, Mary Roberts Rinehart, Avery Hopwood, chapter XII, in The Bat: A Novel from the Play (Dell Book; 241), New York, N.Y.: Dell Publishing Company, →OCLC:

     "Have you any theory about this occurrence to-night?" She watched him eagerly as she asked the question. He made a gesture of bafflement. "None whatever—it's beyond me," he confessed.

   • 2008, Chris Rojek, Brit-Myth: Who Do the British Think They Are?, Reaktion Books, →ISBN:

     The error here is to confuse British composure with the appearance of bafflement, embarrassment and reserve.

2. (countable) Something that causes a state of confusion or puzzlement.
   • 2005 December 16, Josh Tyrangiel, “Best of 2005: Music”, in Time‎, New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2006-09-13:

     The cartoon characters on the front cover, the irritatingly meaningless track names . . . make it seem like a concept album about global warming for kids. Since the lyrics remain a bafflement, it might well be.