as in mystery
something hard to understand or explain
the final fate of the colonists at Roanoke remains a puzzle to this very day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to baffle
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
it is the cause of the disease that puzzles doctors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of puzzle
Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Doyle Rice, USA Today, 17 Jan. 2026
While filming an unboxing video wasn’t unusual, having to do it before the dog park left him puzzled.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for puzzle
Noun
Thanks for teaching me how to buy clothes that fit, how to cook Mexican food, how to be a better man, how to solve puzzles in Zelda, how to make good playlists, how to be a good friend, and how to understand Spanish.
—Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
The mostly icy island of Greenland has been a part of a centuries-long marketing campaign, resulting in a puzzling name with a fascinating history.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 17 Jan. 2026
While filming an unboxing video wasn’t unusual, having to do it before the dog park left him puzzled.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for puzzle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzle
Noun
-
Originally, this was a great mystery, as cosmic rays were known to be composed almost exclusively of protons, and the theoretical limit on a proton that traveled through intergalactic space should forbid such excessively high energies.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Jan. 2026
-
However, the exact source of these jets around their black hole central engines and the precise mechanism powering them is still something of a mystery.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
While McDermott is out, Beane was promoted to president of football operations, a move that baffled many as much as the coach’s firing.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
20 Jan. 2026
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In August 2025, the IFA determined that Lebanon Utilities' leg of the project didn't necessitate an environmental impact statement, which baffled many on the committee who see a host of potential threats.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Gargantuan boulders, twisted spiky trees, and vibrant sunset colors form an arid landscape that has perplexed and inspired creative titans like Jim Morrison and Gram Parsons for years.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
14 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
Verb
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Transparency Without Predictability Feels Like an Excuse Don’t confuse transparency with honesty.—
Shep Hyken,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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Last summer, Noemi Rios of Dallas started the grassroots organization Vecinos Unidos to advise immigrants of their rights and to identify people who may be confused by or scared of the system.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But unlike his Sophoclean namesake, Orestes is bewildered by this escalation and refuses.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
The Atlantic,
5 Jan. 2026
-
In April, the president was among those bewildered by his fall.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
27 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Puzzle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzle. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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