maderr replied to your post: I will not use the word bemused in a manuscript. I…
okay, I give up. why is bemused bad?
Its usage is ambiguous. It’s definition is “confused”. However, many people think it means amused, or dazedly amused, or confused yet amused. As this persists, some dictionaries acknowledge the [amused and puzzled] definition. It’s one of those words that if you use it with intent, people will misinterpret it. If you use it wrong, people will misinterpret it. It’s just not a very good word to clearly communicate the state of someone.
