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
Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026
The query came from a man — puzzled look on his face, riding MARTA — stopped at Five Points station.
—Gavin Godfrey, AJC.com, 17 June 2026
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
Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2026
But after feeding the information into a computer model, the team was puzzled.
—Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 18 June 2026
At first, Gulati was puzzled by the idea.
—Neha Bhatt, NPR, 13 June 2026
The Braves swapped out catchers Thursday, a move that puzzled some fans because there wasn’t a clear explanation.
—Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 5 June 2026
Although new pieces of evidence continue to surface daily, none have provided any credible leads, leaving investigators and the public puzzled.
—Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 4 June 2026
The unconventional performance left the judges puzzled.
—Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
At least one employee was puzzled, and another was furious.
—Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
Two experts said they were puzzled by the release records.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 30 May 2026
Adjective
The umpires conferred and spoke with Venable, who seemed puzzled by the inquisition.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026
The query came from a man — puzzled look on his face, riding MARTA — stopped at Five Points station.
—Gavin Godfrey, AJC.com, 17 June 2026
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
Verb
County officials said they are puzzled by the cost increase in the face of falling ridership for Access Lynx, which provides door-to-door transportation for disabled and low-income riders countywide.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2026
But after feeding the information into a computer model, the team was puzzled.
—Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 18 June 2026
At first, Gulati was puzzled by the idea.
—Neha Bhatt, NPR, 13 June 2026
The Braves swapped out catchers Thursday, a move that puzzled some fans because there wasn’t a clear explanation.
—Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 5 June 2026
Although new pieces of evidence continue to surface daily, none have provided any credible leads, leaving investigators and the public puzzled.
—Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 4 June 2026
The unconventional performance left the judges puzzled.
—Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
At least one employee was puzzled, and another was furious.
—Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
Two experts said they were puzzled by the release records.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 30 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzled
Adjective
-
At the risk of sounding less like a columnist and more like a bewildered bystander … what the heck happened?—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
-
Urged by a call from Hugo to destroy her phone and flee Kansas City fast, before WARDEX can get to her, Margaret also hits the road, accompanied initially by a bewildered Jackson.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
9 June 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
-
His mother, Ahmani Hicks, describes him as a kid who loved sports, and she's baffled as to why her son was targeted.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
-
Known as the Galactic Center Excess, a spherical gamma-ray glow extending out for thousands of light-years from the core of our galaxy, this high-energy light has baffled researchers for over a decade.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
21 June 2026
Adjective
-
Chuck Leavell, a member of the Allman Brothers from 1972 to 1976 and lifelong ambassador of their music, recalls learning about the unlikely union with a bemused expression.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
-
Then came the World Cup, and for a month, a curious if somewhat bemused country sampled the world’s game up close.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, Ana Hernandez, a Pico Gardens resident, is wary of stakeholders behind the BID proposal.—
Alejandra Molina,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
-
Travelers, beware jet skis in the Bahamas Travelers are being warned to be wary of jet ski excursions in the Bahamas, a popular cruise and vacation destination for Americans.—
Robert Abitbol,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
Aryna Sabalenka being asked to dance after defeating Naomi Osaka in the French Open has one former American tennis star perplexed.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
-
Democrats have been particularly perplexed given the state's top-two primary system, which places all candidates on a single ballot regardless of party.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Don't be surprised if this nutty, caramel-y, chocolaty snack mix disappears quickly!—
Hannah Agran,
Midwest Living,
23 June 2026
-
That is probably what surprised, and delighted, me the most.—
Scotty Reiss,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Adjective
-
Katz was cautious about the European enthusiasm.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
-
Some analysts are even more cautious.—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puzzled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzled. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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