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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in bewildered
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in quizzical
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of puzzled
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2025
Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
Bill Gross, then-head of Pimco and a true bond market expert, was just as puzzled.
—George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Younger music fans might be puzzled by high demand for tickets for Oasis; the British band had its biggest hits in the 1990s.
—Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Continue reading … POLITICS SHORT AND SWEET – The Supreme Court's 'most interesting justice' leaves crowd puzzled after brief remarks.
—FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2025
While the end result is a box, the pieces being puzzled together are representing the complex journey of the main character.
—Ryan Fleming, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2025
Fans who commented on Nicks’ post are puzzled.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2025
Her audition tape puzzled the sisters because the girl showed off and discussed the windows of her home.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
The Light Mantle has long puzzled scientists.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
But at seven weeks, doctors were already puzzled.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
Bill Gross, then-head of Pimco and a true bond market expert, was just as puzzled.
—George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Younger music fans might be puzzled by high demand for tickets for Oasis; the British band had its biggest hits in the 1990s.
—Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Continue reading … POLITICS SHORT AND SWEET – The Supreme Court's 'most interesting justice' leaves crowd puzzled after brief remarks.
—FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2025
While the end result is a box, the pieces being puzzled together are representing the complex journey of the main character.
—Ryan Fleming, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2025
Fans who commented on Nicks’ post are puzzled.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2025
Her audition tape puzzled the sisters because the girl showed off and discussed the windows of her home.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzled
Verb
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Many commenters were baffled no one wanted to match with McBride.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
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Those are the same factors that left observers baffled by how the fire was handled a month earlier.—
Stephanie Murray,
AZCentral.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Wednesday confronts Bianca, who is bewildered about her Siren-song not sticking; Wednesday is taking control of things now and Bianca needs to trust her.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Layered in cream, bruised, bewildered, bald.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Louie is summoned to the apartment of Joe Black, a higher-up gangster played by John Malkovich with a manner so quizzical yet threatening that his voice just about quivers with unexpressed rage.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Cue a quizzical look from Sting.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For nearly 20 years, astronomers have been perplexed by the strange disk of dust and debris circling Fomalhaut, a bright star just 25 light-years from Earth.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Many historians have been perplexed by how such a seemingly simple man as Shakespeare could have written works of such grandeur and depth.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Audiences bemused, delighted, hoodwinked theatrically, hoodwinked for real.—
Anne Carson,
New Yorker,
21 Aug. 2025
-
With his brow perennially furrowed and hair slicked with sweat, Riley has the exact look and bearing of a suavely addled wrong-man figure from British thrillers of yore — and thus makes a suitably bemused proxy for the viewers in this wasteland of mounting chaos and absurdity.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Consumers who have already grown weary of the rising cost of living, such as higher utility bills, are also wary of potential price increases from higher tariffs, Furman said.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
3 Sep. 2025
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Researchers caution consumers to be wary of misleading advertising on cereal boxes and to check nutrition labels.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The office had been working with elderly, low-income and disabled people to see what most confused them about SSA processes and what would most help them if these were redesigned.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
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Forgive some Colorado Avalanche fans if they’re confused by the lack of noise as training camp beckons.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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He was stunned Kelce acknowledged his attendance that night in 2018, and even more surprised by the apology.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The two embrace and appear surprised to see each other.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Puzzled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzled. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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