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
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
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
Jake Angelo, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
The poor rott just stood there with its tail tucked between its legs, puzzled.
—Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
When reflecting on the details that struck her most about the home, Kayne points to the mix of materials—spruce panels in the bedroom, river rocks puzzled onto the bathroom counter, and walls of glass that invite the outdoors in.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2026
Dyer seemed puzzled that so many thought the house would face the wrecking ball.
—Camila Gomez, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2026
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
Adjective
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
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
Verb
Now, a growing chorus of tech leaders is singing the praises of AI as the key to solving the medical mystery that has puzzled physicians for millennia.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
The poor rott just stood there with its tail tucked between its legs, puzzled.
—Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
When reflecting on the details that struck her most about the home, Kayne points to the mix of materials—spruce panels in the bedroom, river rocks puzzled onto the bathroom counter, and walls of glass that invite the outdoors in.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2026
Dyer seemed puzzled that so many thought the house would face the wrecking ball.
—Camila Gomez, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzled
Adjective
-
The tragedy at first bewildered law enforcement in both states, as investigators were unsure why Miller traveled to Utah or why the three women were killed.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
The quizzical quartet: Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Bryce Huff and Keion White.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
When the film won, many in the media room at BAFTA turned to each other with a quizzical look.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
One administrator told me that he was baffled, but that the embassy staff seemed confident that something would come of it.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Kokuho was her very first film, and the prospect of attending the Academy Awards astonished and baffled her.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The segment was typically a rapid- fire four- minute crash through the weekend soccer headlines— a conversation between me and Joe— with the rest of the regular political pundits looking on in a bemused silence.—
Roger Bennett,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Referee Francois Letexier showed Vinicius Jr a yellow card for his role in what happened, drawing a bemused look from the goalscorer.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
People are wary of joining groups that may lack authenticity and connection.—
Emilee Coblentz,
Outside,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Her government has since been navigating a delicate transition, balancing pressure from Washington for cooperation on corruption and criminal cases with the demands of powerful figures within Venezuela’s military and security apparatus who remain wary of the rapidly shifting political landscape.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
These are the brutally real snapshots of a man well acquainted with—but still perplexed by—the powerful and destructive forces that lord over our lives.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Hour said he was perplexed by his liberal friends expressing their condolences.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The series took culture by storm soon after its premiere in November, and viewers who have spent any time in its online fan spaces likely won't be surprised to see Williams and Arnaud wading into the discourse around Heated Rivalry.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Mar. 2026
-
No one was surprised to see Robbie, a Chanel ambassador, at the fashion house's Paris Fashion Week show on Monday, March 9.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
By contrast Zoox, acquired by Amazon in 2020, has been more cautious and careful to deploy a service on public streets.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Venezuelan players and coaches are incredibly cautious commenting publicly on politics of the country – to do so could draw additional attention to themselves.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puzzled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzled. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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