1
as in complicating
to make complex or difficult
let's not perplex the issue further with irrelevant concerns
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in puzzling
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the question perplexed me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in baffling
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of perplexing
Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Plemons and Stone reunite after Lanthimos’s perplexing Kinds of Kindness, but Focus Features is putting out all the indicators that this has big Oscar ambitions.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2025
Nate Atkins, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Taylor is accustomed to playing forceful characters who have perplexing emotions about motherhood, and in A Thousand and One, Taylor earned her stripes as a performer and acclaim.
—Essence, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexing
Verb
Spencer Jones is one of the more perplexing prospects in recent baseball memory.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Plemons and Stone reunite after Lanthimos’s perplexing Kinds of Kindness, but Focus Features is putting out all the indicators that this has big Oscar ambitions.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Tutu Atwell’s role is perplexing Every fan base has some trademark bits.
—Nate Atkins, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Taylor is accustomed to playing forceful characters who have perplexing emotions about motherhood, and in A Thousand and One, Taylor earned her stripes as a performer and acclaim.
—Essence, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perplexing
Verb
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The shutdown could also delay the release of key economic data, further complicating policymakers’ decision making.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
30 Sep. 2025
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Also complicating the groundwork was the discovery of Native American artifacts on the property, Corn said.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In May, Kennedy vowed to find what caused autism by September, baffling scientists who near-unanimously believe there is no one cause of the condition.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
22 Sep. 2025
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This is stuttering, crashing and other issues, even on high-end hardware way above recommended specs, which is baffling some.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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And perhaps the most puzzling question — why is Mark Wahlberg a movie star?—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
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Another puzzling result dipped the Green Bay Packers to +750, good for third in the odds.—
Scott Phillips,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That behavior is embarrassing anywhere, and goes against all of golf etiquette.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
30 Sep. 2025
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That wasn't Carey's first time embarrassing her children.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And aren’t our real-life romantic complications bewildering enough?—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
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Its ginormous investments in higher-value, tech-heavy sectors from smartphones to autos to semiconductors to biotechnology are disrupting the global landscape at bewildering speed.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Most intriguing is how these groups will be submitted among the rock, metal and alternative categories, distinctions that only get more confusing as time marches on.—
Alan Light,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Oct. 2025
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Annie and Nick Annie and Nick's path to getting engaged was winding and confusing.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Tuesday will go down as one of Boston’s most confounding losses of the season, a 4-3 defeat in 11 innings to the Baltimore Orioles in which the club went 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Over the course of a few hours in Washington on Tuesday, the increasingly muddled state of public health unfolded.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
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This is an impossible task – partly due to Trump’s own muddled thinking – but most importantly, because Putin does not want peace.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perplexing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perplexing. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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