Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- v. Informal To take in by elaborate methods of deceit; hoodwink. See Synonyms at deceive.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- To hoax; deceive; trick; impose upon.
- To perplex; mystify.
- To use trickery; practise cheating.
Wiktionary
GNU Webster's 1913
- v. To deceive by trickery; to cajole by confusing the senses; to hoax; to mystify; to humbug.
WordNet 3.0
- v. conceal one's true motives from especially by elaborately feigning good intentions so as to gain an end
Etymologies
- Origin unknown.
Examples
“As someone who has seen and used those words -- especially "bamboozle" -- in appellate legal briefs, I find that surprising.”
“Another attempt by Republican Obstructionists to "bamboozle" the American taxpayers.”
“If Obama gets the nomination, the issues will not matter to me, who cares about war, taxes and the economy, or abortion rights only the fact the my candidate was beaten fairly by some "uppity newcomer" who was able to somehow "bamboozle" the majority of democratic primary voters.”
“Now she has her wealthy bully supporters making threats to the Democrats if they don't support her in trying to "bamboozle" this election.”
“| Reply | Permalink anybody who thinks "bamboozle" is "a black thing," or somehow "code" aimed at African-Americans, has obviously missed years of Josh Marshal's coverage of GOP "Bamboozlement (tm) (c)" ever since at least 2004, if not since the site started. get a clue, people.”
“I use "bamboozle" all the time, because no other word really captures the essence of a snake-oil con-job quite as perfectly.”
“It's too quaint to be seen as overly nasty - the Clintons are trying to "bamboozle" you, not you're being lied to.”
“I'm not sure "okey-doke" "bamboozle" and "hoodwink" are the hippest terms to use, but I suppose he is speaking to a diverse audience, and Clinton has been claiming the senior vote, so, sure why not.”
“| Reply | Permalink golly, if one was a suspicious type, one would think this was highly orchestrated p.r. move to hoodwink those 'low info' voters and the cable news chattermonkeys. what's that word josh likes to use -- oh yeah, 'bamboozle' the yokels.”
None Of Republican Moderates Who "Warned" Bush Voted For Iraq Bill
“Though Harding had been offered a hearing after the fact - something the party constitution did not provide for - the tight timeframes were designed to "bamboozle" him into condoning the treatment he had received.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘bamboozle’.
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Origin unknown
bamboozle, ballyhoo, banter, bludgeon, chad, cocktail, culvert, curmugeon, dildo, dude, dweeb, dyke and 51 more...
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The weird, the wonderful and the plain hilarious
Loved for their ingenuity, an exact description, or simply for the pure joy of it.
acidulous, aprosdoketon, higgledy-piggledy, lexicographical, ninja, audacious, somnabulist, shivaree, amorphous, quidnunc, glib, melancholy and 353 more...
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#faveword
Words chosen as favorites for the Twitter hashtag #faveword.
autumnal, grotto, chiaroscuro, sfumato, homunculus, zing, zest, effervescent, bewitch, avuncular, susurrus, Styrofoam and 205 more...
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Lying, cheating, and stealing
subterfuge, chicanery, skulduggery, pilfer, purloin, bamboozle, bilk, gyp, hoodwink, swindle, hoax, dupe and 28 more...
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Phonetically Fun
spittoon, cartouche, baboon, squeeze, bamboozle, pojoaque, pilfer, zamboni, elasticity, pantaloon, oodles, bejesus and 6 more...
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Arcades Ambo
arcades ambo, bamboo, ambo, amboyna, bambino, Amboise, framboise, dithurambos, Rambo, flamboyant, gamboge, mambo and 33 more...
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VVCle
Look at the list for examples
doodle, google, beetle, sheeple, steeple, poodle, noodle, needle, feeble, bamboozle, rootle, creeple and 11 more...
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artbizness - A Wordie Newbie on a Mission-ie.
The Story of my first few days on Wordie.
spatchcock, mokusatsu, mokusatsu, spargepipe, blimey, labyrinthine, bufflehead, lol, word-lubber, screed, worded gentry, bamboozle and 1 more...
artbizness I love this word - it's quite popular on the Indian subcontinent apparently. Sep 18, 2008
yarb "Look here, friend," said I, "if you have anything important to tell us, out with it; but if you are only trying to bamboozle us, you are mistaken in your game..."
- Melville, Moby-Dick, ch. 19 Jul 23, 2008
uselessness Any word that starts with bam is alright in my book. Reminds me of the Flintstones' kid, Bamm-Bamm.
Hmm... perhaps an idea for another list? Anyone? After the -tory mess I sure as heck ain't touching it. Feb 23, 2007
lilacs524 Makes me think of Friends - Joey is hosting a gameshow by this name... "Sorry, you've been... BAMBOOZLED." Feb 23, 2007
sionnach to confuse a panda Feb 20, 2007