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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of perplexed
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
Travelers who happen by the small town of Ida Grove, Iowa, about 100 miles north of Omaha, might be intrigued (and a little perplexed) by the castle-like structures that sprang from the vision of Byron Godbersen, founder of Midwest Industries.
—
Jacqueline Kehoe,
Midwest Living,
22 Apr. 2026
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Stocks’ march higher in the face of deepening geopolitical uncertainty is leaving some on Wall Street increasingly perplexed.
—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perplexed
Adjective
Some observers are perplexed as to why a serious adult drama is attracting the level of fan scrutiny usually reserved for genre material.
—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
Travelers who happen by the small town of Ida Grove, Iowa, about 100 miles north of Omaha, might be intrigued (and a little perplexed) by the castle-like structures that sprang from the vision of Byron Godbersen, founder of Midwest Industries.
—
Jacqueline Kehoe,
Midwest Living,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
Baer appeared perplexed by this coy pretense of innocence.
—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Stocks’ march higher in the face of deepening geopolitical uncertainty is leaving some on Wall Street increasingly perplexed.
—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perplexed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perplexed
Adjective
-
Spotted hyenas long baffled naturalists.
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Everyone looks pretty baffled at what Mwepu Ilunga has done, not least his team-mates.
Verb
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But eating well doesn’t have to be complicated.
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Trump previously planned to hold a Cabinet meeting at Camp David in May but canceled plans because of poor weather that would have complicated the helicopter flight to the retreat.
Verb
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County officials said they are puzzled by the cost increase in the face of falling ridership for Access Lynx, which provides door-to-door transportation for disabled and low-income riders countywide.
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But after feeding the information into a computer model, the team was puzzled.
Adjective
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At the risk of sounding less like a columnist and more like a bewildered bystander … what the heck happened?
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Urged by a call from Hugo to destroy her phone and flee Kansas City fast, before WARDEX can get to her, Margaret also hits the road, accompanied initially by a bewildered Jackson.
Verb
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The case has generated intense international attention because of Hoiby's connection to the royal family, who have been embarrassed by it.
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But Americans don’t want to see the home team embarrassed.
Verb
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It's called cognitive empathy, not to be confused with emotional empathy.
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So The Listeners — not to be confused with 2022’s The Listener starring Tessa Thompson and you in a voice role — is just now reaching the States.
Adjective
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Dudamel never looks nonplussed.
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Brith stares, dazed, nonplussed.
Cite this Entry
“Perplexed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perplexed. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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