View synonyms for stumped

stumped

[ stuhmpt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

completely at a loss; perplexed or nonplussed:
The stumped officer could only stare at the strange object, trying to figure out what it might be.
reduced to a stump; truncated; lopped:
Bowser was a small dog with a stumped tail.
These hills are in fact the stumped remains of mountains millions of years old.
Chiefly Southern U.S. stubbed, as one’s toe:
At the talk, someone in the audience joked, "A stumped toe is all I need as proof that matter is real!"
cleared of stumps:
It was looking more and more impossible to get the recently cleared and stumped field ready for planting by April 26.
(of a crayon drawing, pencil rendering, etc.) toned or modified by means of a stump, a blunt-tipped tool made of tightly rolled paper, leather, etc.:
A stumped drawing by Willem de Kooning, almost rubbed out, inspired our interest in the process of reproduction.

Origin of stumped¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; 1840–45 stumped fordef 3; stump ( def ) + -ed ²( def ) for the adjective senses; stump ( def ) + -ed ¹( def ) for the verb sense

Bob Kaiser, chief of tropical diseases at the CDC, was stumped by the descriptions of the fever.

When the Norwegian duo Ylvis posed it this summer, it stumped us good.

Barbie Latza Nadeau on the morbid case that has Italian authorities stumped.

The two young girls are now the only known witnesses to a crime that has so far stumped French investigators.

It was here, alone in his cabin, feeling irrevocably stumped, that Dylan, as if out of nowhere, had his major breakthrough.

A month later, he turned sharp round, ere half a morning walk was completed, and stumped back to the house.

He flattered himself that by timely suggestion he had stumped at least half a dozen would-be candidates for Mildreds hand.

Well, nobody could think of anything to do—everybody was stumped, and set still.

Newton smiled his thanks to the considerate old pensioners, as they stumped out of the door, and left him alone with his father.

As soon as Welcome could jerk the pin loose, he whirled and stumped furiously back in the direction of Chub and Penny.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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