What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Bafflement vs Riddle - What's the difference?

bafflement | riddle | Related terms |

Bafflement is a related term of riddle.


As a noun bafflement

is (uncountable) the state or result of being baffled, puzzled, or confused.

As a proper noun riddle is

.

bafflement

English

Noun

  • (uncountable) The state or result of being baffled, puzzled, or confused.
  • * 1920 , , The Bat , ch. 12:
    • "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.
  • (countable) Something that causes a state of confusion or puzzlement.
  • * 2005 Dec. 16, , " Best of 2005: Music," Time :
    • 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.

    riddle

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) (m), (m), from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A verbal puzzle, mystery, or other problem of an intellectual nature.
  • :
  • *(John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • *:To wring from me, and tell to them, my secret, / That solved the riddle which I had proposed.
  • *
  • *:Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there. ¶ ("I never) understood it," she observed, lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want to read riddles in a strange gentleman's optics."
    • Synonyms
    * enigma, conundrum, brain-teaser
    Derived terms
    * riddler * riddle stick * a riddle wrapped up in an enigma

    Verb

    (riddl)
  • To speak ambiguously or enigmatically.
  • To solve, answer, or explicate a riddle or question
    • Riddle me this'', meaning ''Answer the following question.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (m), . More at (l).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A sieve with coarse meshes, usually of wire, for separating coarser materials from finer, as chaff from grain, cinders from ashes, or gravel from sand.
  • A board with a row of pins, set zigzag, between which wire is drawn to straighten it.

    • Verb

    (riddl)
  • To put something through a .
    • You have to riddle the gravel before you lay it on the road.
  • * '>citation
  • To fill with holes like a .
    • The machinegun fire began to riddle the poor Afghanis.
  • To fill or spread throughout; to pervade.
    • Your argument is riddled with errors.

    Anagrams

    * (l)