1
as in bewildered
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2
as in quizzical
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as in baffled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
it is the cause of the disease that puzzles doctors
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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
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
Although these driverless taxis were susceptible to citations from local law enforcement, laxity in autonomous vehicle regulations left California law enforcement puzzled about how to address vehicles that violated the state's road laws.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 4 May 2026
Still, experts are puzzled as to how the disease could have spread on the cruise ship.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
As Kate headed for her car, Emily just stood there, looking puzzled.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
However, when hunting for the best thyme varieties to grow in your kitchen garden, you might be puzzled by their diverse names.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Apr. 2026
The mass unemployment everyone feared is still missing Initial jobless claims rose to 214,000 in the most recent week surveyed but the overall trend remains down and Wall Street is slightly puzzled as to why.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
The city’s handling of its project to improve Clairemont’s Olive Grove Park, which has been underway for nearly two years, has left the community puzzled.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 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
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
Although these driverless taxis were susceptible to citations from local law enforcement, laxity in autonomous vehicle regulations left California law enforcement puzzled about how to address vehicles that violated the state's road laws.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 4 May 2026
Still, experts are puzzled as to how the disease could have spread on the cruise ship.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
As Kate headed for her car, Emily just stood there, looking puzzled.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
However, when hunting for the best thyme varieties to grow in your kitchen garden, you might be puzzled by their diverse names.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Apr. 2026
The mass unemployment everyone feared is still missing Initial jobless claims rose to 214,000 in the most recent week surveyed but the overall trend remains down and Wall Street is slightly puzzled as to why.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
The city’s handling of its project to improve Clairemont’s Olive Grove Park, which has been underway for nearly two years, has left the community puzzled.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzled
Adjective
-
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
-
Numerous cryptocurrency novices become bewildered by intricate decals and fluctuating percentages.—
Malana VanTyler,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 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
-
Initial responders were baffled.—
Hank Tester,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
-
He is still baffled by the polygamous, fickle nature of American sports fandom.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
11 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
-
But many Angelenos remained wary of mass transit.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
These are frequently active volcanoes, unlikely to produce a major explosive event, and people in surrounding communities generally know to be wary of them.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
As Season 3 of Euphoria continues to stir up some controversy, one of the show’s stars is perplexed by Cassie’s (Sydney Sweeney) OnlyFans storyline.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Baer appeared perplexed by this coy pretense of innocence.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
When told of his dismissal, Morey was surprised and expressed disappointment but was understanding.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
What surprised researchers wasn’t the presence of microplastics, but the volume.—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
In a groove Phil Maton is cautious to ever declare that his delivery has fully come together.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
-
Beneath the measured pace of transactions — collectors more cautious, galleries recalibrating, auction houses tempering expectations — the intellectual and aesthetic stakes of contemporary art feel newly urgent.—
Andrew S. Jacobson,
Baltimore Sun,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puzzled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzled. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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