verb
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(tr) to perplex or bewilder
Etymology
Origin of flummox
First recorded in 1830–40; origin uncertain
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It has continued to flummox consumers in countries such as Spain and Italy, where "mermelada" and "marmellata" respectively are commonly used for spreads made from other kinds of fruit, such as plums and figs.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
That is roughly as much as Tesla and, if it happens, will flummox traditional aerospace and defense analysts just like Tesla’s valuation can upset traditional car people.
From Barron's • Dec. 12, 2025
The provision is remarkably straightforward—a far cry from the ambiguous, sloppy, or muddled laws that typically flummox the judiciary.
From Slate • Apr. 16, 2024
It might help a few diligent users but would flummox others and probably be mostly ignored.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 10, 2023
"I'm thinking these lads have mixed themselves up to flummox us."
From "The Whipping Boy" by Sid Fleischman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.