as in to perplex
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 mystify
Further appending a detailed list of instructions about what not to bring would be mystifying.
—
Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2025
These questions manifest in a fractured and mystifying world of puzzles and one-off retro computer games that recall the early decades of indie game development.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
In the 1890s West, a young boy’s mother and father are savagely murdered, and years later the young adult sets out for revenge – but the love of a girl and psychological trauma lead him down a mystifying path.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025
The Bears went 5-12 last season, which included mystifying losses, a franchise-record losing streak and a quarterback who was sacked way too often.
—Kevin Fishbain, The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mystify
Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2025
These questions manifest in a fractured and mystifying world of puzzles and one-off retro computer games that recall the early decades of indie game development.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
In the 1890s West, a young boy’s mother and father are savagely murdered, and years later the young adult sets out for revenge – but the love of a girl and psychological trauma lead him down a mystifying path.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025
The Bears went 5-12 last season, which included mystifying losses, a franchise-record losing streak and a quarterback who was sacked way too often.
—Kevin Fishbain, The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mystify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mystify
Verb
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Multiple current and former FDA officials said they were perplexed by Makary's claim, given the push for longer trips in the past had been an efficiency measure intended to result in the agency being able to complete more inspections.—
Paula Cohen,
CBS News,
6 May 2025
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Archaeologists were perplexed by a strange pair of discs found in Oman – only to discover these items were actually a single 4,000-year-old instrument.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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All of the footage from The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon makes the show-within-a-show look silly, which the series confuses with humorousness.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2025
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While no one should ever have confused the entertainment business with a warm binkie, the institutions themselves are in the new and awkward spot of having to justify their existence.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
12 May 2025
Verb
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These reactions are just the tip of the iceberg, as the football world continues to be bewildered at Sanders being available heading into the fourth round on Saturday.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2025
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Across the street, her husband Steve, who nursed Molly through her first fight with breast cancer a few years earlier, sits bewildered in the office of their couples therapist.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Since then, little information has surfaced, and the case continues to baffle investigators.—
Tommy McArdle,
People.com,
29 Apr. 2025
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But even to those who had inside information, the Zimmermann note was baffling.—
Timothy W. Ryback,
The Atlantic,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Listen to this article In 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery merged HBO Max and Discovery+ into a single streaming app called Max, with the puzzling decision to remove the HBO from the streaming app’s brand.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2025
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That drop has puzzled the Dodgers and the right-hander alike.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
Verb
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Tasks that once took hours can be accomplished in minutes; problems can be instantly analyzed; befuddling subjects can be made welcoming through conversation.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2025
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In his wrap-up speech, Looney said he was befuddled about some concerns about the nomination.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mystify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mystify. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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