1
as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
her explanation did little to relieve his puzzlement
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2
as in mystery
something hard to understand or explain
the whole situation remains a puzzlement to everyone who was there
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of puzzlement
Still, imagery and data collected by the probe's instruments are portraying some head-scratching puzzlement.
—
Leonard David, Space.com, 6 May 2025
Theorists could scarcely contain their excitement—or their profound puzzlement.
—Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 30 Apr. 2025
The strategy drew puzzlement from economists, who quickly found errors and inconsistencies in how the administration calculated the new tariff rates.
—Solcyré Burga, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
My pride from the day before turned to puzzlement, then frustration, and finally embarrassment.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 2 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for puzzlement
Leonard David, Space.com, 6 May 2025
Theorists could scarcely contain their excitement—or their profound puzzlement.
—Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 30 Apr. 2025
The strategy drew puzzlement from economists, who quickly found errors and inconsistencies in how the administration calculated the new tariff rates.
—Solcyré Burga, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
My pride from the day before turned to puzzlement, then frustration, and finally embarrassment.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 2 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for puzzlement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzlement
Noun
-
The abrupt departure stunned the crowd, prompting confusion both in the audience and among his bandmates.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Teddy’s reasoning is a confusion of save-the-world alarmism, garden-variety derangement, unhealed trauma, and single-minded revenge.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Martin, 38, created, co-wrote and stars in Wayward, a Netflix mystery series that follows a local police officer's investigation into a local school for troubled teens in an isolated small town.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The mystery donor who offered $130 million to pay troops during the government shutdown is Timothy Mellon, sources told The New York Times on Saturday.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In extremely dense fog, drivers are advised to turn on their hazard lights, pull over into a safe place, and if that’s on the side of the road or hard shoulder—turn off all lights except the hazards, engage the hand brake, and wait until the fog lifts.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In a marked contrast to the undisguised anger, bitter satire, and clear-eyed analysis of his colleagues, bewilderment became the theme of his monologue.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Other residents in the neighborhood have expressed their bewilderment over the incident.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Puzzlement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzlement. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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