1
as in bewildered
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2
as in quizzical
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Dissimilar Words
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of puzzled
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
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
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
The scenes puzzled observers abroad.
—Helena Carpio, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
But councilors, Armstrong and residents say a lack of transparency behind the move has left them puzzled.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Although puzzled, Aisha answered honestly.
—Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
Like his wife, Moore was puzzled when their friend didn’t show up to eat dinner.
—Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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
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
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
The scenes puzzled observers abroad.
—Helena Carpio, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
But councilors, Armstrong and residents say a lack of transparency behind the move has left them puzzled.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Although puzzled, Aisha answered honestly.
—Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
Like his wife, Moore was puzzled when their friend didn’t show up to eat dinner.
—Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzled
Adjective
-
The usually positive Gauff went negative, lacked energy and seemed bewildered and overwhelmed.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Since his starring days at Gonzaga, Timme has earned bewildered double takes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Aikman appeared to be a bit quizzical.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
29 Oct. 2025
-
In a YouTube video, the robot’s head glances around with a quizzical expression and blinks in a way that is eerily lifelike.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Homeowners and residents are baffled by the attacks upon their beautiful — but otherwise seemingly useless — plants.—
Tribune News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Many are calling Belichick’s apparent lack of inclusion a sham or a snub, and even the most reasonable of NFL fans — like Patrick Mahomes — are baffled.—
Vahe Gregorian,
Kansas City Star,
28 Jan. 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
-
Malinina and Skorniakov seldom comment on their son or their methods for coaching him, wary of creating any more pressure for him.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
1 Feb. 2026
-
But some are wary — in the past, the Venezuelan government forced them to renegotiate contracts on worse terms.—
Frank Langfitt,
NPR,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Anyone who abandoned this art would be at risk of experiencing even their own culture as a stranger would, perplexed by the symbols and signs swirling about them.—
Jason Blakely,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
There were schools closer to Crowley ISD that its teams could have been paired with, but North Crowley coach DeMarcus Harris wasn’t surprised.—
Greg Riddle,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Some were surprised to see such a large group of business leaders speak out, given the polarization of the moment.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The anticipated move would end a string of three consecutive quarter-point rate cuts, aligning with a cautious approach outlined by Powell last month, before reports of the investigation into his conduct.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Still, more cautious analysts have flagged weaker activity in China.—
Bloomberg News,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puzzled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzled. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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