as in to perplex
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
we were mystified by the sudden changes in the tax code
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in baffling
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
we were mystified by the sudden changes in the tax code
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in perplexing
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mystifying
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Audition removes overt politics from this project, leaving an often mystifying study of just how much people willfully avoid knowing about the conditions of their lives.
—Lidija Haas, Harper's Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025
The source of the light, which shifted from blue to green to a white whose secret ingredient is ultraviolet, sat in the middle of what could have been an alien lantern, with the otherworldly lightbulb supported in a mystifying structure of translucent plastic.
—Madeline Bodin, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
The disorder’s mystifying nature frustrates medical professionals such as Dr. Lee Fireman, Dash’s pediatrician at MedStar Health.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 19 June 2025
The 80-minute doc is currently in production and delves into the mystifying world of infamous art, wealth and power.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 19 June 2025
My wall craves narrative but also knows that human behavior can be mystifying, and that attempting to make order from chaos is doomed to fail.
—Sarah Weinman, The Atlantic, 18 June 2025
Some things that had initially mystified him, like the tendency for pedestrians in Cambridge to cross streets against traffic lights, eventually bothered him less.
—Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 3 June 2025
His commitment to his craft was mystifying to behold.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
What is the number one question that mystifies scientists?
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Audition removes overt politics from this project, leaving an often mystifying study of just how much people willfully avoid knowing about the conditions of their lives.
—Lidija Haas, Harper's Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025
The source of the light, which shifted from blue to green to a white whose secret ingredient is ultraviolet, sat in the middle of what could have been an alien lantern, with the otherworldly lightbulb supported in a mystifying structure of translucent plastic.
—Madeline Bodin, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
The disorder’s mystifying nature frustrates medical professionals such as Dr. Lee Fireman, Dash’s pediatrician at MedStar Health.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 19 June 2025
The 80-minute doc is currently in production and delves into the mystifying world of infamous art, wealth and power.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 19 June 2025
My wall craves narrative but also knows that human behavior can be mystifying, and that attempting to make order from chaos is doomed to fail.
—Sarah Weinman, The Atlantic, 18 June 2025
Some things that had initially mystified him, like the tendency for pedestrians in Cambridge to cross streets against traffic lights, eventually bothered him less.
—Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 3 June 2025
His commitment to his craft was mystifying to behold.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mystifying
Adjective
-
At least there’s still perplexing songs to listen to.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
23 July 2025
-
The accusations of bad faith are not only perplexing but inaccurate.—
The Daily News,
New York Daily News,
16 July 2025
Adjective
-
What makes this reversal not just baffling but dangerous is its context.—
Lynn Northcutt Vega,
Sun Sentinel,
29 July 2025
-
Here’s the most baffling part of the Republican budget bill, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) writes in an op-ed for The Washington Post.—
Kristina Karisch,
The Hill,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
What’s puzzling is that these truths are even being debated.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
-
The digging sticks, curved root-slicers, and a handful of somewhat puzzling implements were all found at a lakeshore site called Gantangqing.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
Sony and Microsoft and the PC world can keep playing the cutting-edge hardware competition while Nintendo luxuriates in its bizarre boutique silo, unbothered, moisturized, in its lane, consistently content with winning its own solo race.—
Mitch Wallace,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
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President Donald Trump shared a bizarre meme Saturday morning depicting himself and Vice President JD Vance chasing former President Barack Obama in an altered photo from O.J. Simpson’s infamous white Bronco police chase.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
26 July 2025
Adjective
-
Amazon With a bewildering array of colorful smart lighting for any occasion, Govee is an affordable alternative to brands like Philips Hue.—
Simon Hill,
Wired News,
11 July 2025
-
The number of color swatches and leather/fabric samples is bewildering.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
Roman looks for instability in the first stars Perhaps the most exciting cosmic explosion discovery that Roman could make would be the observation of the strange explosive death of the universe's first stars.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
20 July 2025
-
An airline worker staying a night at a hotel near the airport entered their room, only to realize there was something strange about their view.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 July 2025
Adjective
-
Bonnie came to her father's defense in May 2020 after Chapman shared the shocking news of his engagement to girlfriend Francie just 10 months after Beth’s death.—
Skyler Caruso,
People.com,
21 July 2025
-
This shocking breach transformed a beloved feed into a source of confusion and pain.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
20 July 2025
Adjective
-
By the time of totality at 3:20 p.m., dense clouds obscured the view, with an eerie darkness and a golden horizon.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
-
That kind of eerie alignment is how the song came into the world in the first place.—
Sarah Grant,
Rolling Stone,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mystifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mystifying. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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