puzzling 1 of 2

puzzling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of puzzle

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of puzzling
Adjective
These conflicting versions created a puzzling cognitive dissonance. Lane Sainty, USA TODAY, 24 Nov. 2024 What’s more puzzling, some experts say, is that Target is repeating its mistake of alienating progressive customers. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 19 Feb. 2025
Verb
But in several puzzling cases, no source of infection has been identified. Evan Bush, NBC News, 22 Dec. 2024 The recent sightings of puzzling unidentified aircraft in New Jersey and other states have triggered yet another round of unanswered questions — and fueled conspiracy theories. Leonard David, Space.com, 21 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for puzzling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzling
Adjective
  • The abrupt and inexplicable shifts have been dizzying and destabilizing to anyone in the business world, where predictability is the soil in which the seeds of investment get planted.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025
  • On Friday, the Sanders saga transformed from surprising to effectively inexplicable.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The situation only becomes more perplexing when Caleb realizes that no one in his life ever remembers him being married.
    Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Their silence is a bit perplexing, given that many of them claim to be focused on current events and trending topics.
    Christian Paz, Vox, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Brosnan, 71, plays Irish lawman Gabriel Dove, while Jackson, 76, plays a mysterious outlaw calling himself St. Christopher.
    Jack Smart, People.com, 2 May 2025
  • That includes the appearance of a brand new character, Lewis Pullman's mysterious Bob, a.k.a.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • The baffling sight of the car inside the hangar came amid a larger expedition led by a team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • In contrast with the often thoughtful use of space, the production is marred by a baffling design choice.
    Christian Lewis, Variety, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The terrible tragedy that some people went through is just incomprehensible.
    Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025
  • Researching feels incomprehensible or inapplicable, especially as a business owner.
    Bree Manay, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Also unclear is whether a tariff would apply to movies already in production overseas, or partially in foreign countries, like Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, which has been shooting in Morocco, with plans for other locations including Sicily.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 4 May 2025
  • Others say Alhurra withered under an unclear mandate that never allowed the channel to find its identity and therefore audiences.
    Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2025
Adjective
  • The presentation starts with teaching the compliment sandwich technique, but quickly goes off the rails as the participants ask more bizarre questions.
    Rosa Escandon, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
  • Heti’s writing is witty, reflective, and just bizarre enough to capture your interest even as people mill about in your peripheral vision.
    Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • Jared Weiss of The Athletic shared via X. Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson was quite vague when discussing the possibility of Garland suiting up for Game 4.
    Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025
  • For now, the language in the president’s executive order was fairly vague.
    Annie Nova, CNBC, 26 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Puzzling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzling. Accessed 9 May. 2025.

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