perplexed

adjective

per·​plexed pər-ˈplekst 

1

: filled with uncertainty : puzzled

2

: full of difficulty

perplexedly

pər-ˈplek-səd-lē  -ˈplekst-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of perplexed

• baffled
• bewildered
• embarrassed
• nonplussed

Examples of perplexed in a Sentence

He gave her a perplexed look.

The explanation left me thoroughly perplexed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Even within the briefing room, reporters seemed perplexed by some of Warsh’s statements. — Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 29 July 2026

During an interview with Joe Rogan last week, as my colleague Helen Lewis reported, Vance acted perplexed that people had been so offended when a UFC fighter, competing in a fight at the White House, called former First Lady Michelle Obama a man. — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026

Millie Bobby Brown says her American Stranger Things costars were very perplexed by her British meals. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 9 July 2026

There were few international visitors, an absence that has perplexed business owners who banked on hundreds of thousands of new faces to patronize their establishments. — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for perplexed

• ciphertext
• hypertext
• multiplexed
• teletext
• complexed
• deflexed
• plaintext
• pretext
• reflexed
• subtext
• flexed
• next