perplex

verb per·plex \ pər-ˈpleks \

Updated on: 12 May 2018

Definition of perplex

transitive verb

1 : to make unable to grasp something clearly or to think logically and decisively about something

her attitude perplexes me

a perplexing problem

2 : to make intricate or involved : complicate

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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 of perplex from the Web

Suiter’s killing has perplexed investigators for months.

— kevin rector, baltimoresun.com, "Body cameras from Suiter investigation show Baltimore residents living under police watch," 30 Apr. 2018
That teams have had issues in setting up such appointments with Jackson is perplexing, as is his decision not to run a 40 ahead of draft day.

— albert breer, SI.com, "Sean McVay on Why the Rams Will Be Different Than Dream Teams Past," 5 Apr. 2018
Fans were perplexed when Khloé Kardashian announced that she had named her daughter True Thompson.

— kayleigh roberts, Marie Claire, "Khloé Kardashian Copied Kim and Kylie in a Major Way When Naming True Thompson," 20 Apr. 2018
Gregory says he is perplexed by the US government's apparent sudden interest in the mural.

— maria santana, CNN, "Deported vets helped paint this upside-down US flag on the border. Will they have to remove it?," 20 Apr. 2018
While perplexing to me, that doesn’t cross the line.

— michael harriot, The Root, "Stans, Ranked," 20 Apr. 2018
But Jens Jensen, a veteran detective in this isolated North Atlantic nation, was perplexed.

— alistair macdonald, WSJ, "Who’s Murdering Residents of the Blustery Faroe Islands? Crime Writers," 20 Apr. 2018
This is the kind of comment utterly perplexes the mind, and begs the question of whether Akpom has ever actually watched England's international side.

— SI.com, "Arsenal's Chuba Akpom Makes Ridiculous Claim Regarding Jack Wilshere's 'Natural' Ability," 11 Apr. 2018
The question is perplexing Clinton, Mo., and people around the country: What caused dispatchers in Henry County to send a police officer to the wrong address where he would be shot to death by a gunman who also died?

— steve vockrodt and rick montgomery, kansascity, "The 911 error that led to an officer's death: Here's why call locations can be wrong | The Kansas City Star," 8 Mar. 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of perplex

obsolete perplex, adjective, involved, perplexed, from Latin perplexus, from per- thoroughly + plexus involved, from past participle of plectere to braid, twine — more at per-, ply

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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perplex Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of perplex

puzzle, perplex, bewilder, distract, nonplus, confound, dumbfound mean to baffle and disturb mentally. puzzle implies existence of a problem difficult to solve.