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
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
Swartz was mystified by the package.
—Bjorn Dihle, Outdoor Life, 4 Sep. 2025
This moth’s extraordinary navigational abilities have mystified scientists for many decades.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Even some of his former team-mates will admit being unsure, mystified even, about what exactly went wrong after an 18-year-old Kaminsky made his first-team debut in a Nottingham Forest side featuring Roy Keane, Teddy Sheringham and Nigel Clough.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
That’s left some members of Congress mystified about why their funding is in jeopardy.
—Cassandra Jaramillo, ProPublica, 8 Aug. 2025
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
Swartz was mystified by the package.
—Bjorn Dihle, Outdoor Life, 4 Sep. 2025
This moth’s extraordinary navigational abilities have mystified scientists for many decades.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Even some of his former team-mates will admit being unsure, mystified even, about what exactly went wrong after an 18-year-old Kaminsky made his first-team debut in a Nottingham Forest side featuring Roy Keane, Teddy Sheringham and Nigel Clough.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
That’s left some members of Congress mystified about why their funding is in jeopardy.
—Cassandra Jaramillo, ProPublica, 8 Aug. 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
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At a vigil for the two on Sunday night, friends and family were baffled by the killing, the Allentown Morning Call reported.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
5 Jan. 2026
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Scientists are also baffled by how the planet could have formed at all.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Coaches and talent evaluators, both inside the Raiders’ facility and around the league, have been perplexed by the lack of creativity and production.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Country fans were perplexed as to why Johnson, revered for his commitment to traditional country, had gone mostly dark in the studio during that time.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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The Farmers’ Almanac will be gone for good after its final 2026 edition, not to be confused with The Old Farmer's Almanac, a separate publication.—
Alex Perry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Blue Origin also launches New Shepard from Texas The New Glenn spacecraft is not to be confused with Blue Origin's much smaller New Shepard rocket that the company launches from West Texas on brief trips taking paying passengers high above Earth's atmosphere.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mystified.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mystified. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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