1
as in bewildered
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in quizzical
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in baffled
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
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 puzzled
K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026
Autoimmune diseases—a broad and complex category of ailments including rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes—have long puzzled researchers.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
Clean energy companies are even more puzzled.
—Justin Worland, Time, 26 Mar. 2026
High above the forests of the Sauerland, though a popular hiking spot today, individuals from the Iron Age decided to fortify this location with rocks, but why these Iron Age men would secure the mountain puzzled archaeologists.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 7 Mar. 2026
Two of them seemed puzzled by the phrase, struggling to parse out its meaning, while the third instinctively got it.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
The looks grew even more puzzled when Weir, known as the most boyishly handsome member of the Dead, grew facial hair, prompting comparisons to a Civil War reenactor or the cartoon character Yosemite Sam.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
He was greeted by puzzled expressions.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Despite ever-deeper foundations for higher and heavier towers — the latest now extend 20 stories down, more than twice as deep as the foundations of the city’s first towers — some oceanfront buildings still settled at amounts that puzzled engineers.
—Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 1 Dec. 2025
Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
The ways of the whites puzzled the Indians.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Many economists and financial analysts seem puzzled by Americans’ uneasiness about business conditions.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 18 May 2026
Three cases were reported earlier this week, long after the typical growing season for the mushrooms behind the illnesses, leaving public health officials and mycologists puzzled about why the poisonings have been so widespread and what is causing the trend.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 15 May 2026
But China has spent more than a year building strategic stockpiles, a move that puzzled many observers at the time and has now paid off.
—Amena Bakr, semafor.com, 14 May 2026
As the round progressed, DeChambeau’s body language went from purposeful to puzzled to downright peeved, which is something of a typical descent for DeChambeau.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Beata Siemionkowicz's immigration case has puzzled her family and experts.
—Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 7 May 2026
What appears to be an outbreak of hantavirus on a ship anchored near the tiny mid-Atlantic nation of Cabo Verde has infectious diseases experts puzzled.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 5 May 2026
Adjective
Just how much plants can sense in the world around them has long puzzled researchers.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026
Autoimmune diseases—a broad and complex category of ailments including rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes—have long puzzled researchers.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
Clean energy companies are even more puzzled.
—Justin Worland, Time, 26 Mar. 2026
High above the forests of the Sauerland, though a popular hiking spot today, individuals from the Iron Age decided to fortify this location with rocks, but why these Iron Age men would secure the mountain puzzled archaeologists.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 7 Mar. 2026
Two of them seemed puzzled by the phrase, struggling to parse out its meaning, while the third instinctively got it.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
The looks grew even more puzzled when Weir, known as the most boyishly handsome member of the Dead, grew facial hair, prompting comparisons to a Civil War reenactor or the cartoon character Yosemite Sam.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
He was greeted by puzzled expressions.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Despite ever-deeper foundations for higher and heavier towers — the latest now extend 20 stories down, more than twice as deep as the foundations of the city’s first towers — some oceanfront buildings still settled at amounts that puzzled engineers.
—Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 1 Dec. 2025
Verb
Stephen Colbert is departing late night television as a ratings powerhouse, leaving industry observers puzzled by his exit despite his consistent viewership dominance.
—Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
The ways of the whites puzzled the Indians.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Many economists and financial analysts seem puzzled by Americans’ uneasiness about business conditions.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 18 May 2026
Three cases were reported earlier this week, long after the typical growing season for the mushrooms behind the illnesses, leaving public health officials and mycologists puzzled about why the poisonings have been so widespread and what is causing the trend.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 15 May 2026
But China has spent more than a year building strategic stockpiles, a move that puzzled many observers at the time and has now paid off.
—Amena Bakr, semafor.com, 14 May 2026
As the round progressed, DeChambeau’s body language went from purposeful to puzzled to downright peeved, which is something of a typical descent for DeChambeau.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Beata Siemionkowicz's immigration case has puzzled her family and experts.
—Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 7 May 2026
What appears to be an outbreak of hantavirus on a ship anchored near the tiny mid-Atlantic nation of Cabo Verde has infectious diseases experts puzzled.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 5 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzled
Adjective
-
Karl-Anthony Towns, who was on the podium with him, took off his glasses and looked at his teammate with a bewildered expression.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
-
Everyone was so relieved to see how bewildered everyone else was that the feeling in this place was almost festive.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
By widening the lens, Clark is able to redirect the book’s gaze from the mother toward a quizzical, sometimes critical, but not unaffectionate portrait of two generations of political activism, with the attendant self-involvement and domestic negligence.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Carpenter responded with a quizzical frown.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The footage was reposted on TikTok, and the comments were divided—some were convinced that the lyrics had a dark undertone, while others were baffled that a throwaway TikTok meme could be used as evidence in court.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
They are baffled by filmmakers who do not think more aggressively about sustainability, ownership, and business models around their work.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
An utterly delectable novel set in Beirut during and after the Lebanese Civil War, about a 72-year-old translator of Western novels into Arabic, an eccentric steeped in books who shares with us her capacious literary sensibility and often bemused vision.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Giddey gave a bemused nod, then a smile.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Sony has been wary of committing to such an expensive undertaking in a market that is in flux and more challenging than ever.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
-
An adviser to Becerra’s campaign, Michael Bustamante, said in April that Becerra would likely support an increase in the state’s production incentive, but would be wary of making the program unlimited, which could easily run into the billions of dollars.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Democrats have been particularly perplexed given the state's top-two primary system, which places all candidates on a single ballot regardless of party.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
-
As a longtime rider I, too, am perplexed by regular displays of poor customer service by CTA employees.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
With a weaker field, I wouldn’t be surprised if that changes this week.—
Jeff Goudy,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
But don’t be surprised if Blackwood starts Game 4.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Adjective
-
Long periods of high gas prices (of which the tax is a small piece) do seem to produce higher transit ridership, a shift to more fuel-efficient or electric vehicles, and more cautious choices about living far from work and amenities.—
Henry Grabar,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2026
-
The more a decision requires navigating ambiguity rather than optimizing a clear objective, the more cautious organizations should be in delegating it to AI, and the more AI needs to be augmented by human experience, judgment, and deep expertise.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puzzled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzled. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
