as in puzzled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
we were mystified by the sudden changes in the tax code
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Recent Examples of mystified
Haotong Li of China shot 69 and was four behind, still mystified by topping a fairway metal that raced into the pond in front of the 15th green.
—
Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
When great white sharks started vanishing from the coastal waters around Cape Town, South Africa, some scientists and conservationists were mystified.
—Michael H Gavshon, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
There’s no better example of how DeLauter has mystified teammates, coaches and Cleveland fans than his opposite-field homer in Seattle on March 28.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Based on the Don Winslow novella, Crime 101 follows an elusive jewel thief (Hemsworth) whose string of heists along the 101 freeway have mystified police.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
Zeller’s canvases mystified him.
—Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
Listening to that last statement, I was mystified.
—Aryeh Neier, The New York Review of Books, 10 Mar. 2026
Yet even Tamara is mystified by her son’s relentless urge to repair.
—Tad Friend, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Game and Fish officials were mystified because the guy didn't leave much, if any, physical evidence.
—Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 15 Feb. 2026
Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
When great white sharks started vanishing from the coastal waters around Cape Town, South Africa, some scientists and conservationists were mystified.
—Michael H Gavshon, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
There’s no better example of how DeLauter has mystified teammates, coaches and Cleveland fans than his opposite-field homer in Seattle on March 28.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Based on the Don Winslow novella, Crime 101 follows an elusive jewel thief (Hemsworth) whose string of heists along the 101 freeway have mystified police.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
Zeller’s canvases mystified him.
—Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
Listening to that last statement, I was mystified.
—Aryeh Neier, The New York Review of Books, 10 Mar. 2026
Yet even Tamara is mystified by her son’s relentless urge to repair.
—Tad Friend, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Game and Fish officials were mystified because the guy didn't leave much, if any, physical evidence.
—Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mystified
Verb
-
His award recognizes his contributions to settle several questions in differential geometry that had puzzled mathematicians since the 1970s and 1980s.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The diminutive scale of Giacometti’s proposal—a nondescript bust atop a small square base—puzzled his colleagues.—
Ara H. Merjian,
ARTnews.com,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Government officials, who had already introduced measures to ease the burden of price rises a few weeks ago, were baffled over the rationale behind the protests because the global price spike is due to the Middle East conflict that restricted oil exports.—
Brian Melley,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Government officials, who had already introduced measures to ease the burden of price increases two weeks ago, have been baffled over the rationale behind the protests because the global price spike is due to the conflict in the Mideast that has restricted oil exports.—
Brian Melley,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Baer appeared perplexed by this coy pretense of innocence.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Stocks’ march higher in the face of deepening geopolitical uncertainty is leaving some on Wall Street increasingly perplexed.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Now, many millions of Americans are bewildered by events.—
David French,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Oswalt confesses being bewildered by Bamford at first.—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Rockets were confused, Durant being a late scratch and their attack being lost without him, Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson combining for 38 shots and a bunch of misses.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Several residents say they were left scared and confused as strong winds and heavy rain moved through the area.—
Hannah McIlree,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mystified.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mystified. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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