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