perplexing

1 of 2

adjective

per·​plex·​ing pər-ˈplek-siŋ 

: difficult to understand : causing confusion

A perplexing feature of insomnia is that people seem to overestimate their sleep loss.

—Rita L. Atkinson et al.

Chronic acalculous biliary disorders are among the most perplexing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in medicine.

—Richard M. Gore

A perplexing problem, often encountered by cat owners, is that of a refusal to use the litterbox after using it for years in the past.

—Susan L. Mathews

perplexingly adverb

a perplexingly complex problem

This was all that I could observe of her in the dim light and under the perplexingly strange circumstances of our meeting.

—Wilkie Collins

perplexing

2 of 2

present participle of perplex

Examples of perplexing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Director Darren Aronofsky’s chilly mind-bender is mesmerizing, terrifying and perplexing in equal measure. — David Faris, TheWeek, 14 Sep. 2026

The messages, which NPR has obtained and authenticated, are perplexing. — NPR, 10 Sep. 2026

So much about the two circumstances is different, many of them instituted by Key because of losses like the one to Pitt (though that makes getting bullied by Colorado only more perplexing). — Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Perhaps the most perplexing aspect of Craig’s performance was his limited rushing. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1585, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for perplexing

• annexing
• complexing
• flexing
• sexing
• vexing
• multiplexing