1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

perplexing 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of perplexingnext
as in baffling

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

perplexing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of perplex
1
as in complicating
to make complex or difficult let's not perplex the issue further with irrelevant concerns

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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
That’s still the expectation, though the last several days have certainly been perplexing, if not necessarily worrisome. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026 Bohm’s Phillies career has been sometimes frustrating, sometimes exciting, sometimes perplexing. — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
That’s perplexing to Alvarez and Oakley, given that Cal State tuition is still relatively low, despite recent annual tuition hikes. — Cal Matters, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for perplexing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perplexing
  1. baffling
  2. complicating
  3. puzzling
  4. confusing
  5. embarrassing
  6. bewildering
  7. confounding
  8. muddled
Adjective
  • Technology can mitigate noise by using acoustic baffling, bigger fans and applying variable frequency drives.
    — Kevin Brown, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Prime Video continues to be one of the most baffling streaming services, from dull originals like Reacher to a revolving catalogue of films that never saw the light of an actual movie theater.
    — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of baffling
Verb
  • That’s complicating an already complex business stack and forcing businesses to rethink their architecture, Fey said.
    — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Hollywood is stereotypically seen as an industry beloved and supported by liberal politicians, but the current push for a federal film and television tax credit is complicating that typical portrait.
    — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of complicating
Verb
  • While there were reasons for this morning's move higher, this afternoon's bond selloff is puzzling.
    — Diana Olick, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026
  • These early proponents of quantum biology sought explanations for the puzzling properties of life at the classical scale in the counterintuitive laws of physics at the quantum scale.
    — Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of puzzling
Adjective
  • Trotting out this try-hard trifecta of confusing, uninspired installments in a year that’s seen so many entertaining, thought-provoking additions to the horror genre?
    — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The ratings follows another tempest-in-a-teapot bit of You Can See Everything news on Thursday when a typo in the film’s official trailer went viral, with fans becoming convinced the confusing-looking error was intentional — until A24 fixed it.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of confusing
Verb
  • Things escalate as the two share a car ride home from a fancy gala and the bad man yells at her for embarrassing him.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Neither party acted on it; Republicans wanted to avoid embarrassing Trump, while Democrats wanted to avoid embarrassing Nancy Pelosi, whose husband is an active trader.
    — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of embarrassing
Verb
  • The threats are constantly evolving, layering upon themselves with bewildering speed.
    — Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of bewildering
Adjective
  • Its study of dark matter and dark energy could also give scientists new insights into two of the most confounding puzzles in astronomy.
    — Denise Chow, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Grief is one of the most confounding aspects of the human experience.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of confounding
Adjective
  • Garfield, sensitive and earthy, is our bellwether as the events descend into bloody carnage dictated by muddled agendas.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Be sure to order the Horse Thief cocktail, whose proceeds support Barb Philipps’ Saving Gracie Foundation, mixed from Casamigos Tequila, High West Campfire Scotch Blend Whisky, chartreuse, ginger syrup, muddled blackberries, and lime.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of muddled

Browse Nearby Words

perplexes
perplexing
perplexities
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Perplexing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perplexing. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of epistemic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All