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
Watch with any attention, and one begins to see his tricks: the squinty perplexity, the restless hands, the worry lines deepened in concentration, then suddenly relaxed.
—
Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for perplexity
Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for perplexity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perplexity
Noun
-
Invite someone in, agree on a clear next step, and follow through together so momentum builds without confusion or mixed signals.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
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After shooting, there was initial confusion as to what had happened before journalists were able to reach their news outlets to report the details of what unfolded.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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These sensors enable real-time monitoring across a wide range of conditions, including low light, fog, and obstructed environments, while onboard AI and machine-learning classifiers help identify and flag potential threats.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
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His 2025 tape, WOMB, embodied this through his pensive grumbles over wispy vocal chops; each bar that cut through the fog was steeped in sober gravitas.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perplexity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perplexity. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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