perplexing

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

Examples of perplexing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These images are perplexing, thrilling—visual nuts to crack. —Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026

So while Schenn looks like a fit for now on the ice, and this deal helped the Isles move out Jonathan Drouin’s contract, the overall direction was somewhat perplexing in the big picture. —The Athletic Nhl Staff, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026

The craze is perplexing to parents, but Bennett said the Hornets have embraced it to bring joy to young people. —ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026

The oven was equally perplexing. —Jason Fried, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for perplexing

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