as in baffled
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do
the convoluted instructions for calibrating a high-definition television will leave many consumers utterly perplexed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in complicated
to make complex or difficult
let's not perplex the issue further with irrelevant concerns
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in puzzled
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 perplexed
Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 10 Jan. 2026
Pittman seemed perplexed as to what caused the seemingly uninspired performance.
—Erick Taylor, Arkansas Online, 31 Dec. 2025
Jason Blakely, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The play certainly perplexed NFL fans.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexed
Adjective
Those late audits have caused ongoing comments by engaged residents who are perplexed that year after year the town’s government is not able to provide the same audit the state’s other 168 municipalities complete and submit to the public and the state’s budget office.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 10 Jan. 2026
Pittman seemed perplexed as to what caused the seemingly uninspired performance.
—Erick Taylor, Arkansas Online, 31 Dec. 2025
Verb
Anyone who abandoned this art would be at risk of experiencing even their own culture as a stranger would, perplexed by the symbols and signs swirling about them.
—Jason Blakely, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The play certainly perplexed NFL fans.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perplexed
Adjective
-
Emotional rollercoasters for baffled European allies.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
-
During the latest hearing in the case, Young repeatedly seemed baffled that the country’s top leaders would attempt to implement such a policy.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Her ink stains cohered into easily recognizable signs—butterflies, fighter jets, bodies of water, landmasses—that were complicated by text printed atop them.—
Daniel R. Quiles,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Jumping into Caudill’s 10-year-old case has been complicated.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The poor rott just stood there with its tail tucked between its legs, puzzled.—
Andrew Norman Wilson,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
-
When reflecting on the details that struck her most about the home, Kayne points to the mix of materials—spruce panels in the bedroom, river rocks puzzled onto the bathroom counter, and walls of glass that invite the outdoors in.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Olivier tried successfully to get the reader to understand how a gentle, pacific young man could come to kill more than a thousand people, and so capturing the tone and empathetic portrayal not only of Simo Häyhä and his colleagues but also of the often-bewildered Russian soldiers was essential.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The usually positive Gauff went negative, lacked energy and seemed bewildered and overwhelmed.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The team embarrassed Canada, 5-0, in the preliminary round, and swept the North American neighbor in four straight Olympic tune-ups.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The case has deeply embarrassed the royal family, especially his mother, who suffers from an incurable lung illness and who is torn between her role as mother and future queen.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
These earrings are often confused by a pair of sapphire and diamond earrings once owned and worn by Princess Diana—which Kate also wears from time to time.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
23 Feb. 2026
-
According to the department, a CCPD officer quickly found the woman confused and cold, but otherwise unharmed.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Notably, Christoph Waltz appears as a maddeningly nonplussed priest tasked with hunting the titular vampire.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 Feb. 2026
-
In a brief phone interview, a worker at Unique Bite Eatery in Indio appeared nonplussed and said there was no damage at the restaurant.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perplexed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perplexed. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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