mystified

verb

past tense of mystify
as in puzzled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty we were mystified by the sudden changes in the tax code

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 mystified Looking back, Burns is still mystified by her father’s actions. — Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026 En route, Amanda meets Margaret (Robertson), a quirky traveler who disappears without a trace and without being seen by anyone else, leaving Amanda mystified. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026 In recent years, the Angels’ decisions in drafting and development have mystified outside observers. — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 But for those who find (and in some cases may be slightly mystified as to why) that there is a nagging, needling value to Schrader’s ongoing project of tussling with grandiose dilemmas of transgression and deliverance, there is some new news here. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 4 Sep. 2026 Fears of serial killer The unsolved murders at the time mystified Kansas City residents and fueled fears of a serial killer targeting people who used the area’s trail system. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026 For years, Cole was mystified by a small, beanlike object with stripes which lurked in the background of certain drawings. — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026 The delay has mystified many fans, even leading one group to study it. — Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 13 July 2026 After getting up 28 shots against Australia and 32 against Paraguay, Turkey’s coach was mystified by the results. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 20 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mystified
  1. puzzled
  2. baffled
  3. perplexed
  4. bewildered
  5. confused
Verb
  • He was puzzled when, after 2021, the number of children going into foster care dropped, but the state's costs for child welfare were rising.
    — Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The photo also showed two others associated with Kremlev, part of a larger group of Russians whose presence puzzled some attendees.
    — Alex Mierjeski, ProPublica, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of puzzled
Verb
  • Beyond being frustrated with the secrecy, locals said they were baffled by the lack of specifics and clarity the stakeholders had about the project, per the records.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026
  • And just last month, officials in Millcreek, Utah, were baffled to find an unknown camera installed on city property that neither the city nor police requested.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of baffled
Verb
  • California‘s seven Supreme Court justices appeared by turns perplexed by and incredulous of those theories during oral arguments last month.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
  • They were perplexed at first, flummoxed, but pleasant, and unfortunately for them, already long gone from the airport.
    — Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of perplexed
Verb
  • Latif is conflicted by his double life, bewildered by his doubling of parental responsibilities, constantly trying to think two moves ahead yet always ending up three steps behind.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Dan emerges as Primetime’s unlikely heart, bewildered by the dark world he’s wandered into and left to negotiate his ambitions with the high stakes of the job.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of bewildered
Verb
  • Prime Big Deal Days is Amazon's multiday sales event that takes place in the fall, not to be confused with Prime Day, Amazon's summer shopping event.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026
  • At last week's race in Azerbaijan, Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas crashed on the last lap and reportedly blamed it on the software becoming confused and affecting his braking.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of confused

Browse Nearby Words

mystifications
mystified
mystifies
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Cite this Entry

“Mystified.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mystified. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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