perplex

1 to make complex or difficult let's not perplex the issue further with irrelevant concerns Synonyms complex, complexify, embarrass, entangle, complicate, sophisticateRelated Words develop, elaborate, expand; intensify, magnify; confound, confuse, mess (up), mix (up), muddle; snarl, tangleNear Antonyms abbreviate, cut, shorten; ease, facilitate; disentangle, straighten (out), unravel, untangle; oversimplifyAntonyms simplify, streamline

2 to throw into a state of mental uncertainty the question perplexed me Synonyms addle, baffle, bamboozle, beat, befog, befuddle, bemuse, bewilder, buffalo, confound, discombobulate, disorient, flummox, fox, fuddle, get, gravel, maze, muddle, muddy, mystify, confuse, pose, puzzle, vexRelated Words stick, stump, weird out; abash, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle; agitate, bother, chagrin, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, stun, unhinge, unsettle, upset; beguile, cozen, deceive, delude, dupe, fool, gull, hoax, hoodwink, humbug, misguide, mislead, snow, string along, take in, trickNear Antonyms assure, reassure, satisfy; enlighten, inform