PERPLEXING Synonyms: 174 Similar and Opposite Words

perplexing 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of perplexing

as in baffling

Related Words

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Dissimilar Words

perplexing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of perplex

as in complicating

to make complex or difficult let's not perplex the issue further with irrelevant concerns

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in puzzling

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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of perplexing

Adjective

For some perplexing reason, Gia has decided to die on the hill that Ava is lying, despite having no way to prove that and despite the fact that Ava has no reason to lie. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 2 July 2026 Some viewers at home, however, found the clue perplexing, noting that the clue could also be read as referring to the two most recent Best Song winners. — Louis Peitzman, Entertainment Weekly, 29 June 2026

Verb

The disjunction between the abstract composition and the notion of self-portraiture appeared perplexing in its own right; its inoperability only exacerbated the viewer’s frustration and redoubled the artist’s impish provocation. — Ara H. Merjian, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for perplexing

Recent Examples of Synonyms for perplexing

Adjective

Tracking the sky to such depths, such resolution and for such a long time practically guarantees that a bevy of weird and baffling phenomena will emerge from the LSST data.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 24 July 2026
The right-hander threw 90 pitches, mixing a blazing fastball with a baffling knuckle-curve.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026

Definition of baffling

Verb

Further complicating exports, Yemen's Houthi rebels are now disrupting shipping in the Bab El-Mandeb Strait, targeting Saudi tankers and threatening an alternative oil route.

— Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
His long-term future surely hovered as another complicating factor.

— Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of complicating

Adjective

In fact, the over 50 different existing date variations can be quite confusing and have led to a lot of perfectly good food ending up in the trash.

— LeeAnn Weintraub, Oc Register, 25 July 2026
Although officials have said that Madison Square Garden will ultimately stay, the project's new renderings showcase new shops, cleaner and safer train platforms and less confusing layouts.

— Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 24 July 2026

Definition of confusing

Verb

Kyiv’s forces have targeted Russian oil facilities, causing fuel shortages and embarrassing President Vladimir Putin.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
Benefield alleged her stepmother began isolating her from her father, blaming her for household conflicts, reading her private journal, publicly embarrassing her and seeking to push her out of the family dynamic.

— Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2026

Definition of embarrassing

Verb

But these casting decisions are bewildering, to say the least, and will certainly cost the film ticket sales and potential revenue.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026
Similarly, the defensively bewildering 9-6 loss the Wild suffered to start Round 2 in Colorado set the tone for five games that would ultimately be their undoing.

— Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 3 June 2026

Definition of bewildering

Adjective

Grief is one of the most confounding aspects of the human experience.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
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

Definition of confounding

Adjective

That particular brand of pseudo-advocacy, hiding behind the muddled language of law, has been a PEN America staple for at least a decade now.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
Dig deeper, though, and the picture becomes muddled—because how much of that really matters?

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 15 July 2026

Definition of muddled

Browse Nearby Words

perplexes

perplexing

perplexities

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Style

“Perplexing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perplexing. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of perplexing

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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