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 sudden explosive change of air pressure and the heating of the air itself cleared every cloud out of the sky, mystifying Baxter and everyone else who witnessed the disappearance.
—
Charles Pellegrino, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2025
Add it to the list of mystifying choices people make in this episode — and another example of terrible schemers — but Nan and the rest of the women just watch all of this happen from across the theater.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 23 July 2025
Take a mental picture of your animal encounters, or marvel at the work of a professional at Gug Underwater Gallery, where photographer Chris Gug displays otherworldly large-format images of mystifying sea life—from microscopic plankton to great white sharks—found in oceans across the planet.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 15 July 2025
Our parent star, the Sun, has always captivated and mystified us.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for mystify
Charles Pellegrino, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2025
Add it to the list of mystifying choices people make in this episode — and another example of terrible schemers — but Nan and the rest of the women just watch all of this happen from across the theater.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 23 July 2025
Take a mental picture of your animal encounters, or marvel at the work of a professional at Gug Underwater Gallery, where photographer Chris Gug displays otherworldly large-format images of mystifying sea life—from microscopic plankton to great white sharks—found in oceans across the planet.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 15 July 2025
Our parent star, the Sun, has always captivated and mystified us.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for mystify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mystify
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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Yes, God confuses the language and scatters everyone, thereby creating linguistic and cultural diversity.—
John Fugelsang
September 12,
Literary Hub,
12 Sep. 2025
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At one point, O’Steen was confused by a question, and the resulting back-and-forth was reminiscent of an Abbott and Costello repartee.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And aren’t our real-life romantic complications bewildering enough?—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
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Its ginormous investments in higher-value, tech-heavy sectors from smartphones to autos to semiconductors to biotechnology are disrupting the global landscape at bewildering speed.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The result is a set of policies that has baffled some China experts, or at least raised questions about the president’s stance on America’s friendly rival.—
Christian Datoc,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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In the last few years, researchers have stumbled upon baffling signals from deep space, uncovered strange features hiding beneath our oceans, and found clues that hint at life’s secrets on other worlds.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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When Amy Astley became editor-in-chief of Architectural Digest in 2016, many in the design world were puzzled.—
Jane Hanson,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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Staying away from puzzling lines like this is typically the best move.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Or just confused vibes, such as when one player befuddled another by doing his best Puddy from Seinfeld on a plane impersonation.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
25 Aug. 2025
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The Padres were mostly befuddled by Giants starter Kai-Wei Teng for three innings last night.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mystify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mystify. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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