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Are amused and bemused synonyms?
Many people link bemused with amused, believing that the former word carries the meaning “amused, with a touch of something else.” While this was not its original sense, bemused has been used in such a fashion for long enough, and by enough people, that the meaning “having feelings of wry amusement especially from something that is surprising or perplexing" has become established. You may use bemuse in this fashion if you wish, but bear in mind that some people find it objectionable, insisting that bemused and amused are entirely distinct and that bemused properly means “marked by confusion or bewilderment.” It is worth noting that before bemused indicated confusion it had the meaning (especially among poets) “devoted to the Muses.”
Examples of amuse in a Sentence
Marina Watts, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Dunkin' Donuts has amused its fanbase and competitors alike following a rather spicy post to the brand's Instagram account.
—Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
Liam Gallagher isn’t amused by Saturday Night Live‘s take on his tumultuous relationship with brother Noel.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2024
Visiting Florida in 1972, Jansson was amused and alarmed by St. Petersburg, a city dominated by sunny silence.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for amuse 
Dictionary Entries Near amuse
Cite this Entry
“Amuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amuse. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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amuse
verb
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