1
as in to complicate
to make complex or difficult
let's not perplex the issue further with irrelevant concerns
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to bewilder
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the question perplexed me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of perplex
Equally, local business leaders and economists have been perplexed by the fact that the tariffs have been calculated on the back of a trade deficit that was skewed by the export of gold – the deficit is now a surplus.
—
Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
The location perplexes her privileged peers, who contemplate getting $100 worth of quarters for the vending machine and try to order a white wine at the bar.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 23 July 2025
Social Security beneficiaries are accustomed to getting occasional emails from the program about matters like a benefits statement, but many were perplexed to get a different kind of message from the Social Security Administration late in the evening on Thursday, July 3.
—Ben Adler, USA Today, 5 July 2025
That sentiment perplexes scientists and environmental advocates, who say there is already persuasive evidence on the dangers of these chemicals that linger in the environment.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplex
Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
The location perplexes her privileged peers, who contemplate getting $100 worth of quarters for the vending machine and try to order a white wine at the bar.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 23 July 2025
Social Security beneficiaries are accustomed to getting occasional emails from the program about matters like a benefits statement, but many were perplexed to get a different kind of message from the Social Security Administration late in the evening on Thursday, July 3.
—Ben Adler, USA Today, 5 July 2025
That sentiment perplexes scientists and environmental advocates, who say there is already persuasive evidence on the dangers of these chemicals that linger in the environment.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplex
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perplex
Verb
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That means your contract will be administered by a third party, American Auto Shield, which can complicate the claims approval process.—
Brian Sloan,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
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There are a number of majority-minority districts in blue states as well which, if viewed by the Court as unconstitutionally created, could further complicate blue-state efforts to respond to Texas-style extreme gerrymandering.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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Wedged in the far southeastern corner of the bottom of the continent, between South Africa and Mozambique, Eswatini is the last absolute monarchy in Africa, a status that bewilders modernizers and beguiles traditionalists.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Many commenters were baffled no one wanted to match with McBride.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
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Those are the same factors that left observers baffled by how the fire was handled a month earlier.—
Stephanie Murray,
AZCentral.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Writers hate to be embarrassed by their own ignorance.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
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The Yanks finally reached the World Series last season for the first time since 2009, only to be embarrassed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in more ways than one.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Official Policy One bad habit senior leaders often have is confusing their personal preferences with actual policies, like requiring all memos to be written in Times or mandating daily morning check-ins.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
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Do not confuse cumin with black seed cumin, as these are different.—
Barbie Cervoni,
Verywell Health,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Bill Gross, then-head of Pimco and a true bond market expert, was just as puzzled.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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Younger music fans might be puzzled by high demand for tickets for Oasis; the British band had its biggest hits in the 1990s.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perplex.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perplex. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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