Choose the Right Synonym for perplex

puzzle, perplex, bewilder, distract, nonplus, confound, dumbfound mean to baffle and disturb mentally. puzzle implies existence of a problem difficult to solve. the persistent fever puzzled the doctor perplex adds a suggestion of worry and uncertainty especially about making a necessary decision. a behavior that perplexed her friends bewilder stresses a confusion of mind that hampers clear and decisive thinking. a bewildering number of possibilities distract implies agitation or uncertainty induced by conflicting preoccupations or interests. distracted by personal problems nonplus implies a bafflement that makes orderly planning or deciding impossible. the remark left us utterly nonplussed confound implies temporary mental paralysis caused by astonishment or profound abasement. the tragic news confounded us all dumbfound suggests intense but momentary confounding; often the idea of astonishment is so stressed that it becomes a near synonym of astound. was at first too dumbfounded to reply

Examples of perplex in a Sentence

Questions about the meaning of life have always perplexed humankind. let's not perplex the issue further with irrelevant concerns

Recent Examples on the Web The partnership with the massive discount retailer could however perplex shoppers excited by the Gap brand's partnership with West, one that would ostensibly restore some of its cool factor. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 8 June 2021 The Spurs’ success on the road continues to perplex them. — Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, 25 Apr. 2021 In the space of just six pages Askildsen manages to perplex, unsettle and even amuse his reader. — Malcom Forbes Special To The Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 23 Apr. 2021 With only one deep-lying safety, Cover 1 defenses give Martindale an extra defender to perplex or, more likely, pressure the quarterback. — Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, 16 Apr. 2021 But the six-man front, the blitzes and the coverage schemes that the Patriots — and the Chicago Bears before them — employed to perplex the Rams are no longer a mystery. — Houston Mitchell Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2020 Cure ID was designed to cut down that time and cost, particularly to focus on rare diseases that perplex doctors and don't always get much attention from major drug companies. — Ryan Prior, CNN, 9 Sep. 2020 Thus alliances, human rights, altruism itself, all these perplex him. — Mark Danner, The New York Review of Books, 3 June 2020 The first thing that tends to perplex most parents is our sleep schedule. — cleveland, 2 May 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'perplex.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.