puzzling

adjective

puz·​zling ˈpə-zə-liŋ How to pronounce puzzling (audio)
ˈpəz-liŋ
: difficult to understand or solve
puzzling symptoms
puzzlingly adverb

Examples of puzzling in a Sentence

The directions are somewhat puzzling.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the early 2000s, marine biologists first noticed a puzzling pattern. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025 The sad story of Alex Verdugo was one of the most puzzling dramas of the MLB offseason. Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 2025 Sorrentino’s silky sleek yet rather empty cipher is alluring, puzzling and even quite funny, whether that’s always its maker’s intention or not. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025 Even more puzzling was the late move to bring in striker Odsonne Edouard from Crystal Palace to take up the second and last available Premier League loan, paying a large proportion of his considerable wages to boot. Rob Tanner, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for puzzling

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1659, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of puzzling was circa 1659

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Cite this Entry

“Puzzling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puzzling. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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