baffling

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of baffle

comparative more baffling · superlative most baffling

1. Puzzling, perplexing, bewildering.

   [T]he primitive concept of the generative act was one of awe and worship, accorded to a force which was incomprehensible and baffling.

   1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 160

   1 more example

   Ministers must restart trade negotiations with Brussels immediately to sort out the "baffling" array of post-Brexit rulesand regulations that now threaten much of the UK'sexport trade to the EU

   2021, The Guardian, baffling brexit rules threaten export chaos gove is warned, London: The Guardian

2. Frustrating.

plural bafflings

1. An act of foiling or thwarting.

   […] the contrast of the one determined and still triumphant will of the man, with the transient and vain bafflings of winds or waves, of gods, or monsters […]

   1831, The Quarterly Review (London)