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
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
Our parent star, the Sun, has always captivated and mystified us.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2024
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
Our parent star, the Sun, has always captivated and mystified us.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mystified
Verb
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Reports surfaced claiming that WWE was puzzled by such a low grade, followed by rumors that the company pushed to have Hale fired from his position at ESPN.—
Fernando Quiles Jr,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Wenhardt stared at his pages, puzzled.—
Jane Bua,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Fans in the surrounding section can be heard in shock, baffled that the man gave away such a coveted possession.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
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Zeidman was baffled that Shane had been the first person Brooklyn prosecutors sought to execute.—
John J. Lennon,
Rolling Stone,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For nearly 20 years, astronomers have been perplexed by the strange disk of dust and debris circling Fomalhaut, a bright star just 25 light-years from Earth.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Sep. 2025
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Many historians have been perplexed by how such a seemingly simple man as Shakespeare could have written works of such grandeur and depth.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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By bridging cutting-edge research with accessible, actionable advice, this book fills a critical gap in the menopause conversation — one that has left millions of women confused, underserved and unheard.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Arthur’s confused by his brother’s anger.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mystified.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mystified. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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