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
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
Her husband overheard the comment and looked puzzled.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025
Analysts remain puzzled over the White House’s intentions, with some speculating that hardliners are vying to remove Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro from power.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Wolfhard starts laughing at my puzzled face.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
But what's puzzled scientists is that these kinds of craters have only appeared in western Siberia.
—New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2025
Eels have a unique ability to move even after a spinal cord injury, a feat that has long puzzled scientists.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 21 Feb. 2026
Peters recalled getting the recordings and being puzzled… again.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 17 Feb. 2026
Meta’s stock has been on a roller coaster in recent months, and its AI strategy in particular has puzzled Wall Street.
—Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
He was puzzled by friends who bought band T-shirts and obsessed over concerts.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2026
Store employees were puzzled about any alleged involvement with El Primo.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
For decades, this has puzzled physicists and engineers alike.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
Juarez was overwhelmed and a bit puzzled by some of the responses.
—Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
The comedy video series Murderbot has a robot puzzled by humans taking personal risks out of group loyalty.
—Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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
Her husband overheard the comment and looked puzzled.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025
Analysts remain puzzled over the White House’s intentions, with some speculating that hardliners are vying to remove Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro from power.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Wolfhard starts laughing at my puzzled face.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
But what's puzzled scientists is that these kinds of craters have only appeared in western Siberia.
—New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2025
Eels have a unique ability to move even after a spinal cord injury, a feat that has long puzzled scientists.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
Six of the eight worst games were at Angel Stadium, which also puzzled Soriano.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 21 Feb. 2026
Peters recalled getting the recordings and being puzzled… again.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 17 Feb. 2026
Meta’s stock has been on a roller coaster in recent months, and its AI strategy in particular has puzzled Wall Street.
—Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
He was puzzled by friends who bought band T-shirts and obsessed over concerts.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2026
Store employees were puzzled about any alleged involvement with El Primo.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
For decades, this has puzzled physicists and engineers alike.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
Juarez was overwhelmed and a bit puzzled by some of the responses.
—Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
The comedy video series Murderbot has a robot puzzled by humans taking personal risks out of group loyalty.
—Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzled
Adjective
-
Olivier tried successfully to get the reader to understand how a gentle, pacific young man could come to kill more than a thousand people, and so capturing the tone and empathetic portrayal not only of Simo Häyhä and his colleagues but also of the often-bewildered Russian soldiers was essential.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The usually positive Gauff went negative, lacked energy and seemed bewildered and overwhelmed.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
With quizzical eyes upon it, Players Era announced that its checks ultimately cleared a couple weeks later, with most of the money routed through schools’ dedicated NIL collectives.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Baker initially shot Benard a quizzical look.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Yet Howe, his coaches and recruitment staff were baffled by such early criticism.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Even Proctor’s defense attorney seemed baffled by the district attorney’s office’s handling of the case.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The bemused interviewer then asked if Guardiola felt the interpretation of rules was different in the Premier League.—
Sam Lee,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Over the subsequent stories, Goodman crafts subtle investigations of the relations between siblings, the fine blend of anxiety and pride parents feel for their offspring, and the bemused affection an aunt or uncle might feel for their aimless nieces or haphazard nephews.—
Chloe Schama,
Vogue,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Despite the calm, residents remained wary of the media frenzy the neighborhood had seen for several weeks, illustrated by a sign posted on a pole down the street from Guthrie’s house.—
Helen Rummel,
AZCentral.com,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Many American firms, wary of corruption and instability, decided to stay away from business dealings in the region.—
Nicolas Niarchos,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
She also was perplexed at the city’s inaction while noting a new leader offers a fresh perspective.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The moment became viral on social media, with some X users perplexed at the interview.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Don't be surprised when that stubbornness ends up being one of their best character traits.—
Bridget Shirvell,
Parents,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Everyone, including production, was surprised to find out what had transpired.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Be cautious of ice accumulating on power lines or tree branches, which can lead to snapping and falling hazards.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Most of North and Central Texas shouldbe cautious with burning on Thursday, but the wildfire threat is less severe.—
Julia James,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puzzled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzled. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
