as in to perplex
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
we were mystified by the sudden changes in the tax code
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Recent Examples of mystify
Investigators and lawmakers on the panel were mystified as to why Eastland hadn’t ordered a large-scale evacuation over the PA system or gone cabin-to-cabin to ask girls to evacuate by foot.
—
Ashley Killough,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
The film tells the story of her Hungarian family’s relocation to Vancouver Island during one summer in the 1990s, as her parents grapple with the worsening and mystifying behavior of her older half-brother Jeremy (Edik Beddoes).
—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
Franz Wagner, who missed 48 games this year with that mystifying ankle injury, finally started looking like his old self with 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
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Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Apr. 2026
But the mystifying circumstances of his 1973 death — involving an overdose at the Joshua Tree Inn and the subsequent theft of his body — have often overshadowed his remarkable musical legacy.
—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mystify
Ashley Killough,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
The film tells the story of her Hungarian family’s relocation to Vancouver Island during one summer in the 1990s, as her parents grapple with the worsening and mystifying behavior of her older half-brother Jeremy (Edik Beddoes).
—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
Franz Wagner, who missed 48 games this year with that mystifying ankle injury, finally started looking like his old self with 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Apr. 2026
But the mystifying circumstances of his 1973 death — involving an overdose at the Joshua Tree Inn and the subsequent theft of his body — have often overshadowed his remarkable musical legacy.
—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mystify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mystify
Verb
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Sometimes those editing swings make sense, like incorporating more social-media posts and group chats, but other times the stylistic choices simply perplex.
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Many are perplexed by the decision to partner with Target given the boycott taking place due to the company’s rollback of DEI initiatives.
Verb
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The decision reverses a June 15 determination by Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher, who concluded the Petersburg resident's candidacy was intended to confuse voters rather than represent a legitimate campaign.
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The senator and allies, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee, have condemned the challenger’s efforts to join the race, arguing his presence could confuse voters.
Verb
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For three years straight, he’s kept up a pace that bewilders the industry’s leading comics.
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The narrator and his wife find that their attachment to the charismatic and cryptic Chibi grows with the cat’s increasing visits, in a way that bewilders them but somehow bonds them closer together.
Verb
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In the sixth inning, Jasson Domínguez battled Skubal for eight pitches, surviving against the stuff that baffled him earlier in the game.
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His mother, Ahmani Hicks, describes him as a kid who loved sports, and she's baffled as to why her son was targeted.
Verb
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Pochettino seemed puzzled by the downcast tone of his post-match press conference.
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Astronomers are puzzled that such a glaring inconsistency could have gone unnoticed in existing data, such as the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), which provides our earliest snapshot of the universe.
Verb
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Of course, this is just a simple way to look at a complex problem that befuddles property owners, insurance companies and policymakers alike.
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That prevents your privacy and befuddles trackers that bundle your location and demographic data along with your online activities to sell your profile to advertisers and brokers.
Cite this Entry
“Mystify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mystify. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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