bewildered gaze

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bewildered gaze" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone's expression or look when they are confused or perplexed. Example: "She looked at the complex puzzle with a bewildered gaze, unsure of where to start."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Despite Ms. Yu's assurances that she had meant to flatter — "Jesus was in fact a very handsome man" — I could manage but a bewildered gaze in return.

The New York Times - Arts

The show attracts only a handful of patrons, including a puckish Japanese tourist (Mitamura Kiyonobu) whose command of his bewildered gaze could be borrowed from Jacques Tati, and several men who seem interested solely in homosexual pickups (a long single-take scene at a long row of urinals is a masterwork of understated, exquisitely choreographed humor).

The New Yorker

I'm about to start reading them to a friend's five-year-old daughter and there is every chance that she will turn a bewildered gaze upon me, mutely baffled by references to village post offices, cottages unsold to developers, and hollow tree trunks that haven't been turned into branches of Tesco Express.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

This time, I noticed the silences of their quick, bewildered gazes at each other as if across an abyss of incomprehension; Reed's attention to those actors' eyes is extraordinary.

The New Yorker

Labeled the quarterback of the future when Bill Parcells drafted him in 2000, Pennington assumes the perch under dire circumstances, trying to guide a 1-3 team with a locker room full of battered confidence and bewildered gazes.

The New York Times - Sports

Lightshows are pretty much the bread and butter of any EDM festival, and this glover was onto some next-level shit - his reflective, mirror-like mask allowed me to see my own bewildered face gazing slack-jawed at the light trails.

Vice

Lightshows are pretty much the bread and butter of any EDM festival, and this glover was onto some next-level shit his reflective, mirror-like mask allowed me to see my own bewildered face gazing slack-jawed at the light trails.

Vice

His stories begin to contradict and blur, an effect as beautiful and bewildering as gazing through a kaleidoscope.

The Guardian - Books

They keep wandering into the room my daughters share, gazing, bewildered, at the empty bunk beds, giving me a quizzical look when they can't locate their most willing playmates.

The New York Times - Arts

Bewildered, I swept my gaze back and forth over the teeming surface, waiting for her head to pop up, gasping, her hands brushing hair and water out of her eyes.

The New Yorker

Others gazed at her, bewildered.Mrs Clinton's quest for the Democratic nomination took her to many distant corners, but the least expected may have been Puerto Rico, a semi-independent commonwealth that does not participate in America's general election.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bewildered gaze" to vividly depict a character's internal state of confusion or uncertainty, adding depth to your narrative or description.

Common error

Avoid using "bewildered gaze" when a stronger emotion like fear or shock is more appropriate. "Bewildered" implies confusion, not necessarily terror.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bewildered gaze" functions primarily as a descriptive element, adding detail to character portrayal or scene-setting. Ludwig confirms its correct usage, indicating that it effectively conveys a sense of confusion or disorientation through visual imagery.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bewildered gaze" is a grammatically sound and semantically appropriate expression used to depict confusion or perplexity through visual description. Predominantly found in news and media sources, the phrase functions as a descriptive element enhancing narrative engagement. Ludwig confirms the appropriateness of "bewildered gaze" for illustrating a character's internal state, and suggests alternatives like "confused stare" or "perplexed look" for variety. While relatively rare, its usage is correct and effective in conveying a sense of momentary disorientation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

confused stare

Replaces "gaze" with "stare", implying a more intense and prolonged look of confusion.

baffled gaze

Similar to "bewildered gaze" but suggests a slightly more extreme level of confusion, close to being utterly stumped.

perplexed look

Substitutes both words, focusing on the internal state of being perplexed rather than the act of gazing.

puzzled expression

Replaces the physical action with an outward manifestation of being puzzled, emphasizing facial expression.

uncomprehending look

Highlights the lack of understanding in the gaze, focusing on the cognitive aspect.

bemused expression

Suggests a state of mild confusion or amusement, a softer version of bewilderment.

blank stare

Emphasizes the emptiness of the gaze, suggesting a lack of comprehension or engagement.

disoriented look

Focuses on the feeling of being lost or confused in one's surroundings.

confounded expression

Implies a more intense and frustrated state of confusion.

unsettled look

This denotes more concern and a deeper sense of something not being right than simple bewilderment. It suggests a disturbing element.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "bewildered gaze" in a sentence?

Use "bewildered gaze" to describe a character's reaction to something unexpected or confusing. For instance, "She turned a "bewildered gaze" upon the strange contraption."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "bewildered gaze"?

You can use alternatives like "confused stare", "perplexed look", or "puzzled expression" depending on the context.

Is there a subtle difference in meaning between "bewildered gaze" and "confused stare"?

While both suggest confusion, ""bewildered gaze"" often implies a momentary state of perplexity, whereas "confused stare" suggests a more prolonged and perhaps more intense state of confusion.

Can "bewildered gaze" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "bewildered gaze" is appropriate for both formal and informal writing. Its suitability depends more on the context and the desired tone than on the formality of the writing itself.