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
Yet even Tamara is mystified by her son’s relentless urge to repair.
—
Tad Friend, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Tuttle says she is mystified by the fact that the festival is being presented as being less political, or even as having turned its back on politics.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 16 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
Quote of the week Labour seem to be mystified and terrified of the bond market in equal proportions.
—Ian King, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
And, in the same way, generations before us were mystified by how sounds (radio) and pictures (television) could travel through the airwaves.
—Terry Savage, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
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
Tad Friend, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Tuttle says she is mystified by the fact that the festival is being presented as being less political, or even as having turned its back on politics.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 16 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
Quote of the week Labour seem to be mystified and terrified of the bond market in equal proportions.
—Ian King, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
And, in the same way, generations before us were mystified by how sounds (radio) and pictures (television) could travel through the airwaves.
—Terry Savage, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mystified
Verb
-
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
Verb
-
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
-
Kokuho was her very first film, and the prospect of attending the Academy Awards astonished and baffled her.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Hour said he was perplexed by his liberal friends expressing their condolences.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
2 Mar. 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
-
Carlson clearly got confused between the arsonist and the fire brigade.—
Calev Myers,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
They are confused by all the activity.—
Via Chronicle Books,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mystified.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mystified. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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