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
The film tells the story of her Hungarian family’s relocation to Vancouver Island during one summer in the 1990s, as her parents grapple with the worsening and mystifying behavior of her older half-brother Jeremy (Edik Beddoes).
—
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
Franz Wagner, who missed 48 games this year with that mystifying ankle injury, finally started looking like his old self with 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2026
But the mystifying circumstances of his 1973 death — involving an overdose at the Joshua Tree Inn and the subsequent theft of his body — have often overshadowed his remarkable musical legacy.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 14 Apr. 2026
When great white sharks started vanishing from the coastal waters around Cape Town, South Africa, some scientists and conservationists were mystified.
—Michael H Gavshon, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mystify
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
Franz Wagner, who missed 48 games this year with that mystifying ankle injury, finally started looking like his old self with 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2026
But the mystifying circumstances of his 1973 death — involving an overdose at the Joshua Tree Inn and the subsequent theft of his body — have often overshadowed his remarkable musical legacy.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 14 Apr. 2026
When great white sharks started vanishing from the coastal waters around Cape Town, South Africa, some scientists and conservationists were mystified.
—Michael H Gavshon, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mystify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mystify
Verb
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Aryna Sabalenka being asked to dance after defeating Naomi Osaka in the French Open has one former American tennis star perplexed.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
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Democrats have been particularly perplexed given the state's top-two primary system, which places all candidates on a single ballot regardless of party.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Instead, the ideologues of Russian imperialism have turned to random musings and belligerent hate speech, which seems intended to confuse rather than convince.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
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Relocating a bird's nest is confusing for the parents, dangerous for the eggs, and, in most cases, against the law.—
Blythe Copeland,
Martha Stewart,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Similarly, the defensively bewildering 9-6 loss the Wild suffered to start Round 2 in Colorado set the tone for five games that would ultimately be their undoing.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
3 June 2026
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Former Republican state senator Jeff Brandes, who now leads the Florida Policy Project, said he was bewildered by the governor's proposal.—
Jim DeFede,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
Verb
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But he was baffled as to why people are now incensed over pickleball courts.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
3 June 2026
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For more than four minutes Darnold drove downfield, connecting on three of four passes, baffling the pass rushers, bleeding the clock, and by the time the Seahawks finally gave the ball back, the Rams had only 25 seconds to live.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Two experts said they were puzzled by the release records.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
30 May 2026
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Tim Ream is looking at you, puzzled.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Just reaching the Finals has befuddled most of my friends.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
2 June 2026
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Needless to say, the Pinnacles' beauty has continued to both befuddle and astonish visitors today.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mystify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mystify. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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