Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

perplex

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of perplex

1 to make complex or difficult
  • Let's not perplex the issue further with irrelevant concerns.
Synonyms of perplex

complex, complexify, complicate, embarrass, entangle, sophisticate
Words Related to perplex

develop, elaborate, expand

intensify, magnify

confound, confuse, mess (up), mix (up), muddle

snarl, tangle
Near Antonyms of perplex

abbreviate, cut, shorten

ease, facilitate

disentangle, straighten (out), unravel, untangle

oversimplify
Antonyms of perplex

simplify, streamline
2 to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
  • The question perplexed me.
Synonyms of perplex

addle, baffle, bamboozle, beat, befog, befuddle, bemuse, bewilder, buffalo, confound, confuse, discombobulate, disorient, flummox, fox, fuddle, get, maze, muddle, muddy, mystify, puzzle, vex
Words Related to perplex

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, trick
Phrases Synonymous with perplex

blow one's mind, go to one's head
Near Antonyms of perplex

assure, reassure, satisfy

enlighten, inform

Synonym Discussion of perplex

puzzle, perplex, bewilder, distract, nonplus, confound, dumbfound mean to baffle and disturb mentally. puzzle implies existence of a problem difficult to solve.
    • the persistent fever puzzled the doctor
perplex adds a suggestion of worry and uncertainty especially about making a necessary decision.
    • a behavior that perplexed her friends
bewilder stresses a confusion of mind that hampers clear and decisive thinking.
    • a bewildering number of possibilities
distract implies agitation or uncertainty induced by conflicting preoccupations or interests.
    • distracted by personal problems
nonplus implies a bafflement that makes orderly planning or deciding impossible.
    • the remark left us utterly nonplussed
confound implies temporary mental paralysis caused by astonishment or profound abasement.
    • the tragic news confounded us all
dumbfound suggests intense but momentary confounding; often the idea of astonishment is so stressed that it becomes a near synonym of astound.
    • was at first too dumbfounded to reply

Learn More about perplex

  1. See words that rhyme with perplex Dictionary: Definition of perplex Spanish Central: Translation of perplex Nglish: Translation of perplex for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of perplex for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up perplex? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games