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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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
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
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
As my children both turned toward me, puzzled at my silence, the last three decades unfurled.
—Sofía Pereda, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
How asteroids get their spin In recent decades, astronomers have been puzzled by why some asteroids rotate like spinning tops while others tumble through space in chaotic, unpredictable ways.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Elsewhere, gold has surged to all-time highs, notably breaking past $4,000 for the first time ever, a milestone that has puzzled investors who aren’t sure what to make of the move.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
Indeed, this key detail has puzzled music fans for decades.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
The supermodel and businesswoman, 51, has puzzled followers with frenzied TikToks about her dreams to serve Hot Ice Cream at her Australian ice cream shop, SMiZE and Dream.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
Wenhardt stared at his pages, puzzled.
—Jane Bua, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
The move has puzzled many since ending the program would bar every company, including oil firms, from accessing federal subsidies for capturing carbon or producing hydrogen fuel.
—Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
Adjective
The statues, which were carved and placed on the South Pacific's Easter Island between the 12th and 17th centuries, have puzzled travelers since the first European contact was made there in 1722.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
As my children both turned toward me, puzzled at my silence, the last three decades unfurled.
—Sofía Pereda, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
How asteroids get their spin In recent decades, astronomers have been puzzled by why some asteroids rotate like spinning tops while others tumble through space in chaotic, unpredictable ways.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Elsewhere, gold has surged to all-time highs, notably breaking past $4,000 for the first time ever, a milestone that has puzzled investors who aren’t sure what to make of the move.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
Indeed, this key detail has puzzled music fans for decades.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
The supermodel and businesswoman, 51, has puzzled followers with frenzied TikToks about her dreams to serve Hot Ice Cream at her Australian ice cream shop, SMiZE and Dream.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
Wenhardt stared at his pages, puzzled.
—Jane Bua, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
The move has puzzled many since ending the program would bar every company, including oil firms, from accessing federal subsidies for capturing carbon or producing hydrogen fuel.
—Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzled
Verb
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This isn’t the first time the value of a thrift store find has left the internet baffled.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
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And suddenly, Glenn and the Jets headed to halftime without running a play in the nearly 40 seconds at their disposal, a move that baffled both their loyalists in New Jersey and the Broncos’ sideline across the pond.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Wounded and bewildered, Theresa vows—silently—never to have that feeling again, never to be at anyone else’s mercy.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
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As Friday’s stabbing incident involving NFL alum Mark Sanchez slowly comes into focus, the team at Fox Sports seems to be just as bewildered as the rest of us.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Verb
-
Illston appeared frustrated and perplexed by the government's unwillingness to engage on the merits during the hearing.—
Andrea Hsu,
NPR,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The 18 runs plundered off one over was the most Jasprit Bumrah had ever conceded in Tests, leaving the bowler perplexed as he was replaced.—
Sam Dalling,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Many of the British people in the audience were left bemused.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
30 Sep. 2025
-
My cousins rose to greet me and my mother, and for a second we were all bemused.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
His playing has now come to be an omen of danger, so visitors who hear drums playing should be wary.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The new real estate series sees the Scott twins help wary buyers grapple with commitment issues to possibly make the biggest purchase of their lives.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While some players confused her lyrics for other pop powerhouses', others showed off their Swiftie sides and extensive knowledge of her discography.—
Lex Goldstein,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
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Three stops into The Boy Is Mine Tour this week, fans of Brandy Norwood and Monica were left confused by the abrupt end to Saturday’s concert.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Well, maybe a little surprised, considering the opponent was the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, who allowed only four runs in sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Pillsbury was particularly surprised by this reaction.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Puzzled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzled. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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