as in mystery
something hard to understand or explain
the final fate of the colonists at Roanoke remains a puzzle to this very day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to baffle
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
it is the cause of the disease that puzzles doctors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to solve
to find an answer for through reasoning
I was able to puzzle out the riddle in a fairly short time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of puzzle
Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Perhaps not enough people know where to catch the MGM+ original, because the satisfying puzzle box series, developed by John Griffin, has remained steady and exciting during its run, consistent when other mysterious shows might have run out of gas or jumped the shark.
—William Earl, Variety, 11 June 2026
Neha Bhatt, NPR, 13 June 2026
The 24 hours between Sunday and Monday made an already puzzling situation even more head spinning.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for puzzle
Noun
Last year was a communication puzzle to solve.
—Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Perhaps not enough people know where to catch the MGM+ original, because the satisfying puzzle box series, developed by John Griffin, has remained steady and exciting during its run, consistent when other mysterious shows might have run out of gas or jumped the shark.
—William Earl, Variety, 11 June 2026
Verb
At first, Gulati was puzzled by the idea.
—Neha Bhatt, NPR, 13 June 2026
The 24 hours between Sunday and Monday made an already puzzling situation even more head spinning.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for puzzle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzle
Noun
-
There is also the mystery around the captivity of Otto Hightower, Alicent’s father.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
For those who prefer fiction to nonfiction, mysteries edge out science fiction and fantasy as the most popular genre overall, and they are favored by both women and readers who read the most books per year (though men are more likely to pick up sci-fi and fantasy).—
Fred Backus,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
The Illinois numbers, especially this year’s, are baffling experts.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
-
Using humane methods like squirrel baffles and tree nets can effectively keep squirrels out of your fruit trees.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Senga has been an enigma for the Mets over the last few years.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
15 June 2026
-
Tucker, just 29, has been a complete enigma since signing a four-year, $240 million free-agent contract with the Dodgers this offseason.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
But there were also perplexing moments that punctured the gravitas of the event (even for an event built around hand-to-hand combat).—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
-
Aryna Sabalenka being asked to dance after defeating Naomi Osaka in the French Open has one former American tennis star perplexed.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
London Falling is an investigation of an inexplicable death told through the lens of parents struggling to solve the riddle of who their son really was.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
-
The machine’s repertoire included answers to 12 riddles, passages from books, and laughing, crying and kissing sounds, as well as arias sung in both male and female voices—all feats that Edison’s phonograph would one day be able to accomplish by recording and playing back the human voice.—
Ron Cowen,
Scientific American,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
So The Listeners — not to be confused with 2022’s The Listener starring Tessa Thompson and you in a voice role — is just now reaching the States.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
20 June 2026
-
Why The Market Misprices Good Companies Investors often confuse business quality with investment quality.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
For three years straight, he’s kept up a pace that bewilders the industry’s leading comics.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
17 June 2026
-
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.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puzzle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzle. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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