befuddle, confound, confuse, discombobulate, fox, bedevil, fuddle, throw - be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly; "These questions confuse even the experts"; "This question completely threw me"; "This question befuddled even the teacher"

fluster - cause to be nervous or upset

bother - make confused or perplexed or puzzled

distract, deflect - draw someone's attention away from something; "The thief distracted the bystanders"; "He deflected his competitors"

abash, embarrass - cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious

arouse, elicit, evoke, provoke, enkindle, kindle, fire, raise - call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses); "arouse pity"; "raise a smile"; "evoke sympathy"

faze, unnerve, unsettle, enervate - disturb the composure of

dissolve - cause to lose control emotionally; "The news dissolved her into tears"

bemuse, discombobulate, bewilder, throw - cause to be confused emotionally

abash, embarrass - cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious

anguish, pain, hurt - cause emotional anguish or make miserable; "It pains me to see my children not being taught well in school"

afflict - cause great unhappiness for; distress; "she was afflicted by the death of her parents"