as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
seeing her perplexity, the teacher stepped in with a helpful hint
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Recent Examples of perplexity
This story is one of many that showcase the perplexities that encompass being a mother and a human raising other humans, which is not a small task.
—
Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 10 Apr. 2025
Doing so nine days since the transfer portal opened on March 24 only adds to the perplexity.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2025
Sleep—which, when things go well, consumes a third of our lives—poses two opposed existential perplexities.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
The performances, too, are more likenesses than full characterizations, which, admittedly, is wholly in keeping with the perplexities being dramatized.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for perplexity
Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 10 Apr. 2025
Doing so nine days since the transfer portal opened on March 24 only adds to the perplexity.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2025
Sleep—which, when things go well, consumes a third of our lives—poses two opposed existential perplexities.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
The performances, too, are more likenesses than full characterizations, which, admittedly, is wholly in keeping with the perplexities being dramatized.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for perplexity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perplexity
Noun
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Multiple helpers can slow response during urgent scams and create confusion when fast decisions matter.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
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The category confusion continued this year.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Freezing fog makes driving, boating, flying, and other forms of transportation particularly hazardous.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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Streetlights flickered before large parts of the city were plunged into darkness, as a thick fog settled over the streets and temperatures plummeted to –5 degrees Celsius (23 degrees Fahrenheit).—
Kosta Gak,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perplexity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perplexity. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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