Difference between bemused and amused

You may be confused by the words amused and bemused. They sound so much the same but mean something completely different. This could bemuse some and amuse others. Don’t let it befuddle you because it’s really quite funny. Worry no more I’ll amuse you all as I explain the difference so you won’t be bemused.

Bemused

Definition:

as defined by google definitions
past tense: bemused; past participle: bemused
puzzle, confuse, or bewilder (someone).bewildered or confused. lost in thought; preoccupied.
“her bemused expression”
Synonyms: bewildered, confused, puzzled, perplexed, baffled, mystified, nonplussed, muddled, befuddled, dumbfounded, at sea, at a loss

Origins: Said to be from the early 1700’s, to be with a muse, lost in thought.

Examples:
Kyle felt bemused after being awoken abruptly
Natasha was bemused by the complicated instructions
She sat there with a bemused expression, after being hit by a stray ball at the game
Fred was not bemused by the product but by what it was supposed to be used for
The teachers question bemused Sheryl
It can be bemusing to talk to someone with a heavy accent
Did I bemuse you with my complicated explanation?
Newborn babies are bemused by many things easily

To quote So I married an axe murderer:
Charlie Mackenzie: Harriet. Harry-ette. Hard-hearted harbinger of haggis. Beautiful, bemused, bellicose butcher. Un-trust… ing. Un-know… ing. Un-love… ed? “He wants you back,” he screamed into the night air like a firefighter going to a window that has no fire… except the passion of his heart. I am lonely. It’s really hard. This poem… sucks.

Amused

Definition:

as defined by Dictionary.com
adjective
pleasurably entertained, occupied, or diverted.
displaying amusement : an amused expression on her face.
aroused to mirth.
Synonyms: please, charm, cheer, divert, entertain

Origins: Has obscure and unclear origins thought to be from old French.

Examples:

Sarah was amused by her sons first Christmas
Tom amused himself by reading a book while waiting
Kara thought it was amusing to wake her husband by playing the drums
Milly was not amused when the cops brought her daughter home well after midnight
The girls played dress up to great amusement
The baby was easily amused by the game of peek a boo
The movie amused her so much she wanted to watch it again
Everything was amusing to the hyper girls who had eaten too much sugar

To quote Disney’s Robin Hood:
Prince John: My dear, I suspect you favor the gangly youth, hmm?
Maid Marian: Uh, why, yes, sire. Well, at least he amuses me.
Prince John: Coincidently, my dear young lady, he amuses me too.

All together now:
Tyler was amused that Kyle seemed bemused by his behaviour
Tanya patiently gave simple directions to the bemused old man for the tenth time, while John laughed amusingly.
Everyone else’s amusement at the joke bemused Kevin
When Glenda showed up to the party, everyone was amused by her costume of an elf, but she was bemused by their response. She was dressed as a hobbit.
The riddle amused half the class and bemused the other half equally
The poor bemused cat sat, shaking and scared, in the middle of a circle of amused children
As Frank threw up, he was bemused by why people were amused with roller-coasters
The joke bemused her at first, but with an explanation she soon got it and was amused along with everyone else

Conclusion:

To sum it up amuse means to entertain for amusement; to make people happy. To be amused means you are happy and enjoy what you are doing or watching. Bemused means to be confused, puzzled and unsure of something, not really understanding completely. So hopefully I amused you with my explanations and didn’t bemuse you at all. I tried to be amusing but not bemusing or confusing without making you choosing to stop reading my musings.

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