puzzle

1 of 2

verb

puz·​zle ˈpə-zəl 

puzzled; puzzling ˈpə-zə-liŋ 

ˈpəz-liŋ

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

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

puzzler

ˈpə-zə-lər 

ˈpəz-lər

noun

puzzle

2 of 2

noun

1

: the state of being puzzled : perplexity

2

a

: something that is difficult to solve, resolve, or understand : something that puzzles

At the time, the nature of insect flight was still quite a puzzle …

—James Gorman

b

: something (such as a game or test) that is designed to be challenging to answer or solve

a crossword puzzle

a logic puzzle

see also jigsaw puzzle

Synonyms

Verb

• addle
• baffle
• bamboozle
• beat
• befog
• befuddle
• bemuse
• bewilder
• buffalo
• confound
• confuse
• discombobulate
• disorient
• flummox
• fox
• fuddle
• get
• gravel
• maze
• muddle
• muddy
• mystify
• perplex
• pose
• vex

Noun

• closed book
• conundrum
• enigma
• head-scratcher
• mystery
• mystification
• puzzlement
• riddle
• secret
• why

Choose the Right Synonym for puzzle

Verb

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

Noun

mystery, problem, enigma, riddle, puzzle mean something which baffles or perplexes.

mystery applies to what cannot be fully understood by reason or less strictly to whatever resists or defies explanation.

the mystery of the stone monoliths

problem applies to a question or difficulty calling for a solution or causing concern.

problems created by high technology

enigma applies to utterance or behavior that is very difficult to interpret.

his suicide remains an enigma

riddle suggests an enigma or problem involving paradox or apparent contradiction.

the riddle of the reclusive pop star

puzzle applies to an enigma or problem that challenges ingenuity for its solution.

the thief's motives were a puzzle for the police

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

Verb

That drop has puzzled the Dodgers and the right-hander alike. —Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 14 May 2025

Listen to this article In 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery merged HBO Max and Discovery+ into a single streaming app called Max, with the puzzling decision to remove the HBO from the streaming app’s brand. —Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025

Noun

These puzzles required the participants to fill in the blanks on a series of two-tone images with minimal detail. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 May 2025

This was a bit of a lateral thinking puzzle: A husband and wife are driving down a road one night when the car runs out of gas. —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025

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

• Chinese puzzle
• crossword puzzle
• jigsaw puzzle
• monkey puzzle
• picture puzzle
• piece of the puzzle
• puzzle out
• puzzle over

Rhymes for puzzle

• muzzle

Kids Definition

puzzle

1 of 2 verb

puz·​zle ˈpəz-əl 

puzzled; puzzling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to confuse the understanding of

2

: to solve with difficulty or cleverness

puzzler

-(ə-)lər 

noun

puzzle

2 of 2 noun

1

: puzzlement sense 1

2

a

: something that puzzles

b

: a question, problem, or device designed for testing skill or cleverness