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
Based on the Don Winslow novella, Crime 101 follows an elusive jewel thief (Hemsworth) whose string of heists along the 101 freeway have mystified police.
—
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
Zeller’s canvases mystified him.
—Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
Though maybe also mystifying it even more.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
Listening to that last statement, I was mystified.
—Aryeh Neier, The New York Review of Books, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mystify
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
Zeller’s canvases mystified him.
—Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
Though maybe also mystifying it even more.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
Listening to that last statement, I was mystified.
—Aryeh Neier, The New York Review of Books, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mystify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mystify
Verb
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Baer appeared perplexed by this coy pretense of innocence.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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Stocks’ march higher in the face of deepening geopolitical uncertainty is leaving some on Wall Street increasingly perplexed.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But Neptune also blurs lines, which is why its influence can feel mysterious or even confusing at times.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
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The threats have left operators confused and frozen, unwilling to attempt passage, due to safety fears and uncertainty about Iran's new fee system.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Netizens were bewildered by the latest pivot, resulting in plenty of mockery on social media.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
16 Apr. 2026
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But even more than engaging the big ideas that Emma’s revelation triggers — pun somewhat intended — Lee and Borli wanted to craft an experience that would mimic its main characters’ bewildering interiority.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Government officials, who had already introduced measures to ease the burden of price rises, have been baffled over the rationale behind the protests because the price spike is global and due to the conflict in the Middle East that has restricted oil exports.—
Brian Melley,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
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This baffles and outrages Angela, a protective mom who, with other parents, pushes back against Gabor using her math classroom as a forum for introducing the outside world’s worst actions.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That’s puzzling because DeSantis has been an enthusiastic supporter of tax relief.—
ORLANDO SENTINEL AND MIAMI HERALD EDITORIAL BOARDS,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 Apr. 2026
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The diminutive scale of Giacometti’s proposal—a nondescript bust atop a small square base—puzzled his colleagues.—
Ara H. Merjian,
ARTnews.com,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This description recalls what leadership expert Jason Wild previously told Fortune about how AI tools are probabilistic, befuddling managers everywhere.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
8 Apr. 2026
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Duchamp’s ensuing readymades, many of them iconic works of the Dada movement of the 1910s, continued to vex and befuddle.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mystify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mystify. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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