puzzled; puzzling
ˈpə-zə-liŋ 
ˈpəz-liŋ
1
: to offer or represent to (someone) a problem difficult to solve or a situation difficult to resolve : challenge mentally
also
: to exert (oneself, one's mind, etc.) over such a problem or situation
they puzzled their wits to find a solution
2
archaic
: complicate, entangle
3
: to solve with difficulty or ingenuity
puzzle out an answer to a riddle
1
: to be uncertain as to action or choice
2
: to attempt a solution of a puzzle by guesswork or experiment
puzzle over the mystery
1
: the state of being puzzled : perplexity
2
a
: something that puzzles
b
: a question, problem, or contrivance designed for testing ingenuity
Synonyms
Examples of puzzle in a Sentence
Verb
The cause of the accident has puzzled investigators.
it is the cause of the disease that puzzles doctors
Noun
a book of puns, riddles, and puzzles
the final fate of the colonists at Roanoke remains a puzzle to this very day
Recent Examples on the Web
Evan Bush, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2023
The anatomy of these enigmatic animals has puzzled researchers for years.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Nov. 2023
This question has puzzled biologists for decades, but some new research says that a starfish’s whole body could function like a head.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 Nov. 2023
As the crime and mystery columnist for the Book Review, Ms. Weinman investigates not mysteries themselves but the merit of mystery novels, offering readers four book suggestions — puzzling whodunits; twisty thrillers — every month.
—Katherine J. Igoe, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2023
Ripken became a first-ballot Hall of Famer with 98.5% of the vote, so maybe there’s something to a proverb with a murky origin and puzzling imagery.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2023
Some voters seemed puzzled, even frustrated, about the road ahead.
—Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, ABC News, 13 Nov. 2023
There were puzzling quirks that could either charm or challenge, depending on the guest: green plastic dining chairs that looked like they could’ve been bought at a hardware store.
—Hugh Garvey, Sunset Magazine, 6 Nov. 2023
Scientists are still puzzled by the factors that lead to rapid intensification.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 25 Oct. 2023
Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Nov. 2023
The announcement in early December that a car, a white Hyundai Elantra with unknown license plates, may be linked to the scene only ramped up the online conversations among amateur detectives determined to piece together the puzzle.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2023
Try them to tackle even the most challenging puzzles.
—Sam Corbin, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023
One experiment, for example, focused on participants' completion of word puzzles after being shown images designed to elicit specific emotional responses.
—Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2023
Efforts to conserve and replant forests remain a critical piece of the global climate-change puzzle.
—Condé Nast, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023
The K-pop stars added one more piece to the puzzle of its release on Sunday (Nov. 5), sharing the album’s tracklist on X (formerly known as Twitter).
—Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2023
An infectious disease specialist, House thrives on the challenge of solving medical puzzles in order to save lives.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 6 Nov. 2023
Curbing climate change — and extreme weather for future generations — depends squarely on society’s ability to rapidly build new clean energy infrastructure despite the messy puzzle of local, state and federal reviews projects must overcome.
—Amy Harder, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2023
See More
Verb
For decades, scientists have been trying to untangle puzzling questions over male fertility.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2023
The anatomy of these enigmatic animals has puzzled researchers for years.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Nov. 2023
This question has puzzled biologists for decades, but some new research says that a starfish’s whole body could function like a head.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 Nov. 2023
As the crime and mystery columnist for the Book Review, Ms. Weinman investigates not mysteries themselves but the merit of mystery novels, offering readers four book suggestions — puzzling whodunits; twisty thrillers — every month.
—Katherine J. Igoe, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2023
Ripken became a first-ballot Hall of Famer with 98.5% of the vote, so maybe there’s something to a proverb with a murky origin and puzzling imagery.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2023
Some voters seemed puzzled, even frustrated, about the road ahead.
—Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, ABC News, 13 Nov. 2023
There were puzzling quirks that could either charm or challenge, depending on the guest: green plastic dining chairs that looked like they could’ve been bought at a hardware store.
—Hugh Garvey, Sunset Magazine, 6 Nov. 2023
Scientists are still puzzled by the factors that lead to rapid intensification.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 25 Oct. 2023
Noun
That’s one of the most enigmatic parts of the whole puzzle.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Nov. 2023
The announcement in early December that a car, a white Hyundai Elantra with unknown license plates, may be linked to the scene only ramped up the online conversations among amateur detectives determined to piece together the puzzle.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2023
Try them to tackle even the most challenging puzzles.
—Sam Corbin, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023
One experiment, for example, focused on participants' completion of word puzzles after being shown images designed to elicit specific emotional responses.
—Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2023
Efforts to conserve and replant forests remain a critical piece of the global climate-change puzzle.
—Condé Nast, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023
The K-pop stars added one more piece to the puzzle of its release on Sunday (Nov. 5), sharing the album’s tracklist on X (formerly known as Twitter).
—Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2023
An infectious disease specialist, House thrives on the challenge of solving medical puzzles in order to save lives.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 6 Nov. 2023
Curbing climate change — and extreme weather for future generations — depends squarely on society’s ability to rapidly build new clean energy infrastructure despite the messy puzzle of local, state and federal reviews projects must overcome.
—Amy Harder, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'puzzle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
origin unknown
First Known Use
Verb
1582, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing puzzle
Articles Related to puzzle
Dictionary Entries Near puzzle
Cite this Entry
“Puzzle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puzzle. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.
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Kids Definition
puzzle
2 of 2 noun2
a
: something that puzzles
b
: a question, problem, or device designed for testing skill or cleverness
More from Merriam-Webster on puzzle
Nglish: Translation of puzzle for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of puzzle for Arabic Speakers
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