as in baffling
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in complicating
to make complex or difficult
let's not perplex the issue further with irrelevant concerns
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2
as in puzzling
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the question perplexed me
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of perplexing
The Athletic Nhl Staff, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
The craze is perplexing to parents, but Bennett said the Hornets have embraced it to bring joy to young people.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025
But as the fearsome storm unfolded, perplexing science questions emerged, said Joshua Wadler, an associate scientist at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach who was aboard the flights on Kermit with Hazelton.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexing
Adjective
So while Schenn looks like a fit for now on the ice, and this deal helped the Isles move out Jonathan Drouin’s contract, the overall direction was somewhat perplexing in the big picture.
—The Athletic Nhl Staff, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
The craze is perplexing to parents, but Bennett said the Hornets have embraced it to bring joy to young people.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
Even more than the finished show, this eerie, perplexing multi-Gaga spectacle feels like a glimpse into her subconscious.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025
But as the fearsome storm unfolded, perplexing science questions emerged, said Joshua Wadler, an associate scientist at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach who was aboard the flights on Kermit with Hazelton.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perplexing
Adjective
-
The renderings of what was shown to Hopewell Township resident Kyle Eaton were a tad baffling.—
Chilekasi Adele,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
That lack of curiosity has always been baffling to me.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Clements said the mistaken identification may have happened because the creature decomposed and lost its telltale shell before it was fossilized, complicating identification.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The autopsy attributed Patton’s cause of death to acute bacterial bronchopneumonia complicating an influenza A infection, with methadone use as a contributing factor.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But if not selling high on Herro was a mistake, the curious commitment to Andrew Wiggins stands just as puzzling.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Why a complete and puzzling change in my lifelong habits?—
Dr. C. E. Kuschel,
Outdoor Life,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The digital menu is divided into a handful of confusing categories that force you to rely on your previous memory of what’s on offer, not only because finding new options is so difficult, but also because even looking for them is inordinately time-consuming.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2026
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Set in New Jersey, the story follows an ethnically and religiously confusing family fronted by hardware store owner Linda (Laurie Metcalf), who decides after the death of her mother to run for mayor of their midsized town.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And when that happens, Jamahl Mosley — a good coach and an even better man — will be the fall guy for a team that is embarrassing itself on a national scale and getting exposed in the league standings.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
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Harbaugh has taken a blow torch to the Giants’ embarrassing special teams unit.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But even more than engaging the big ideas that Emma’s revelation triggers — pun somewhat intended — Lee and Borli wanted to craft an experience that would mimic its main characters’ bewildering interiority.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
6 Apr. 2026
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There aren’t many ways to earn a club’s first win better than bewildering the league’s defending champions at their place.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In 2021, one year into D’Amaro’s tenure and following COVID shutdowns, Disney did away with FastPass and introduced a confounding and very costly series of pay-to-skip passes, which require timing advanced booking of limited slots in these formerly free-to-enter shorter lines.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
5 Feb. 2026
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The Eagles were a confounding defending champion throughout the regular season.—
Jeff Howe,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The cocktail list includes The Crag OF, a smooth take on an Old Fashioned, and the Irish Exit, a drink inspired by the Irish Maid, with elderflower, fresh lemon and muddled cucumber.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
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Dinner is preceded by a fireside drinks hour, which gives guests a chance to connect with each other and share highlights from the day’s game drives while sipping cocktails made with muddled herbs (grown on-site, of course).—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perplexing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perplexing. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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