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
The Cowboys’ offense was mystified in the loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
—
Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
The few people making their way up and down the street suggested that Providence is as mystified as the rest of America about the identity of the tipster who helped crack the case and identified the shooting suspect.
—Jay Marques, NBC news, 20 Dec. 2025
There’s something a bit terrifying about the intense Deadhead-like devotion of the Swifties every night — and the singer is as mystified by it as anyone else.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2025
The dogs were mystified—nothing like this had ever happened to them.
—Ben Taub, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Mario Lopez, whose brother David was killed by a Brightline train in 2019, said he has long been mystified that the train can operate in such a crowded corridor and at such high speeds.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2025
This was an enormous question that mystified the ancient world.
—Big Think, 30 Oct. 2025
The source of excess gamma-ray radiation, known as the Galactic Center GeV Excess (GCE), has mystified scientists for over a decade.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
Alexander Paul Robertson Lewis allegedly dispensed the substance at West Florence High School in Florence, South Carolina, over a nearly monthlong span, leaving school officials mystified as to the origin of the foul odor, the Florence County Sheriff's office said in a statement.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2025
Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
The few people making their way up and down the street suggested that Providence is as mystified as the rest of America about the identity of the tipster who helped crack the case and identified the shooting suspect.
—Jay Marques, NBC news, 20 Dec. 2025
There’s something a bit terrifying about the intense Deadhead-like devotion of the Swifties every night — and the singer is as mystified by it as anyone else.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2025
The dogs were mystified—nothing like this had ever happened to them.
—Ben Taub, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Mario Lopez, whose brother David was killed by a Brightline train in 2019, said he has long been mystified that the train can operate in such a crowded corridor and at such high speeds.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2025
This was an enormous question that mystified the ancient world.
—Big Think, 30 Oct. 2025
The source of excess gamma-ray radiation, known as the Galactic Center GeV Excess (GCE), has mystified scientists for over a decade.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
Alexander Paul Robertson Lewis allegedly dispensed the substance at West Florence High School in Florence, South Carolina, over a nearly monthlong span, leaving school officials mystified as to the origin of the foul odor, the Florence County Sheriff's office said in a statement.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mystified
Verb
-
Although puzzled, Aisha answered honestly.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Like his wife, Moore was puzzled when their friend didn’t show up to eat dinner.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Later novels routinely took inspiration from family members or former or current lovers; the 1980 novel that baffled Frank Kermode is a dreamlike fable about a man guiltily trying to have an extramarital affair.—
Christopher Tayler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Instead, Chan's team taught Liu how to juggle, which baffled her.—
Daysia Tolentino,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Gargantuan boulders, twisted spiky trees, and vibrant sunset colors form an arid landscape that has perplexed and inspired creative titans like Jim Morrison and Gram Parsons for years.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Anyone who abandoned this art would be at risk of experiencing even their own culture as a stranger would, perplexed by the symbols and signs swirling about them.—
Jason Blakely,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
But unlike his Sophoclean namesake, Orestes is bewildered by this escalation and refuses.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
The Atlantic,
5 Jan. 2026
-
In April, the president was among those bewildered by his fall.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
27 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The show is Finding Her Edge, a new ice skating drama that should not be confused with Spinning Out, another Netflix ice skating drama that was cancelled after one season.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Judicial warrants should not be confused with administrative warrants, which are signed by immigration officers.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mystified.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mystified. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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