1
as in bewildered
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2
as in quizzical
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Dissimilar Words
as in baffled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
it is the cause of the disease that puzzles doctors
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of puzzled
Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 7 Mar. 2026
Two of them seemed puzzled by the phrase, struggling to parse out its meaning, while the third instinctively got it.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
The looks grew even more puzzled when Weir, known as the most boyishly handsome member of the Dead, grew facial hair, prompting comparisons to a Civil War reenactor or the cartoon character Yosemite Sam.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
He was greeted by puzzled expressions.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Despite ever-deeper foundations for higher and heavier towers — the latest now extend 20 stories down, more than twice as deep as the foundations of the city’s first towers — some oceanfront buildings still settled at amounts that puzzled engineers.
—Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 1 Dec. 2025
Her husband overheard the comment and looked puzzled.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025
Analysts remain puzzled over the White House’s intentions, with some speculating that hardliners are vying to remove Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro from power.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Wolfhard starts laughing at my puzzled face.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
Big Think, 25 Mar. 2026
This has puzzled researchers because lithium metal is soft, while the ceramic electrolytes used in these batteries are rigid.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
As the city gains national attention as a top spring break destination, viral videos like these have left outsiders puzzled.
—Ryan Nickerson, Houston Chronicle, 21 Mar. 2026
In the 2000 play, now in a Shotgun Players production directed by Kevin Clarke, Martin is puzzled by himself.
—Theater Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Mar. 2026
Those are the issues that have always puzzled me about people who get hung up on the idea of retroactive Social Security benefits.
—Tom Margenau, Dallas Morning News, 15 Mar. 2026
Policy experts were puzzled — but Final Fantasy XIV players were reminded of the game's most powerful weapons.
—ABC News, 9 Mar. 2026
Now, a growing chorus of tech leaders is singing the praises of AI as the key to solving the medical mystery that has puzzled physicians for millennia.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
The poor rott just stood there with its tail tucked between its legs, puzzled.
—Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
High above the forests of the Sauerland, though a popular hiking spot today, individuals from the Iron Age decided to fortify this location with rocks, but why these Iron Age men would secure the mountain puzzled archaeologists.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 7 Mar. 2026
Two of them seemed puzzled by the phrase, struggling to parse out its meaning, while the third instinctively got it.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
The looks grew even more puzzled when Weir, known as the most boyishly handsome member of the Dead, grew facial hair, prompting comparisons to a Civil War reenactor or the cartoon character Yosemite Sam.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
He was greeted by puzzled expressions.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Despite ever-deeper foundations for higher and heavier towers — the latest now extend 20 stories down, more than twice as deep as the foundations of the city’s first towers — some oceanfront buildings still settled at amounts that puzzled engineers.
—Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 1 Dec. 2025
Her husband overheard the comment and looked puzzled.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025
Analysts remain puzzled over the White House’s intentions, with some speculating that hardliners are vying to remove Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro from power.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Wolfhard starts laughing at my puzzled face.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
The remains of these unknown creatures often puzzled their discoverers.
—Big Think, 25 Mar. 2026
This has puzzled researchers because lithium metal is soft, while the ceramic electrolytes used in these batteries are rigid.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
As the city gains national attention as a top spring break destination, viral videos like these have left outsiders puzzled.
—Ryan Nickerson, Houston Chronicle, 21 Mar. 2026
In the 2000 play, now in a Shotgun Players production directed by Kevin Clarke, Martin is puzzled by himself.
—Theater Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Mar. 2026
Those are the issues that have always puzzled me about people who get hung up on the idea of retroactive Social Security benefits.
—Tom Margenau, Dallas Morning News, 15 Mar. 2026
Policy experts were puzzled — but Final Fantasy XIV players were reminded of the game's most powerful weapons.
—ABC News, 9 Mar. 2026
Now, a growing chorus of tech leaders is singing the praises of AI as the key to solving the medical mystery that has puzzled physicians for millennia.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
The poor rott just stood there with its tail tucked between its legs, puzzled.
—Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzled
Adjective
-
There was no punchline, no twist — just the straightforward, slightly bewildered observation that someone, somewhere, had performed surgery on a grape.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Exasperated, bewildered, and realizing other musicians were also dealing with this, Bender came up with a way to show just how porous the system was.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
His strengths include a quizzical approach to the theater.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
-
When the film won, many in the media room at BAFTA turned to each other with a quizzical look.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The decision has baffled Apatow’s team and inner circle.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
-
One administrator told me that he was baffled, but that the embassy staff seemed confident that something would come of it.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Chris Robinson is a bit bemused at the idea of a column being dedicated to legacy musicians, even if his own band, the Black Crowes, released their swaggering debut album 36 years ago and are now eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Auriemma watched the chaos unfold wearing a bemused smirk.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Be wary of those who push for your cash without offering sufficient collateral or payback plans.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2026
-
In comparison, the US has adopted a warier stance towards OpenClaw and other AI tools.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Their presence prompted nervousness among beachgoers and surfers sharing the water, but marveled researchers who were perplexed by the abnormally longer stay close to shore.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
-
These are the brutally real snapshots of a man well acquainted with—but still perplexed by—the powerful and destructive forces that lord over our lives.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Those familiar with Minnelli’s chaotic late period might be surprised to learn that she was initially perceived as a pillar of stability.—
Matt Weinstock,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Plans are in place to relocate the statue to land belonging to the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, and during work last year to remove the remaining pedestal base, a crane crew was surprised to discover a tin box in a hole beneath it.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
With multiple players coming back from injury — as well as a questionable turf field — the Current opted to take a cautious approach.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Lee says Everpure’s initial approach to generative AI was fairly cautious after the launch of ChatGPT, as the company wanted to take time to set up governance protocols around data privacy and security.—
John Kell,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puzzled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzled. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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