1
as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
her explanation did little to relieve his puzzlement
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
As such, anyone who took this type of interim role is going to be out of a job and possibly have something on their resume that will be a puzzlement.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Closeups of her face in various states of puzzlement, affection, or frustration dazzle, and remove any doubt: Liu is a star.
—Caleb Hammond, IndieWire, 1 Sep. 2025
His quotes circulated widely, shared by bloggers and fans on social media with a bit of puzzlement and delight but with little follow-up or explanation.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Still, imagery and data collected by the probe's instruments are portraying some head-scratching puzzlement.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for puzzlement
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Closeups of her face in various states of puzzlement, affection, or frustration dazzle, and remove any doubt: Liu is a star.
—Caleb Hammond, IndieWire, 1 Sep. 2025
His quotes circulated widely, shared by bloggers and fans on social media with a bit of puzzlement and delight but with little follow-up or explanation.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Still, imagery and data collected by the probe's instruments are portraying some head-scratching puzzlement.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for puzzlement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzlement
Noun
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Multiple helpers can slow response during urgent scams and create confusion when fast decisions matter.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The category confusion continued this year.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The film presents a fable in which a cop and a machine find their way through the maze of this mystery, essentially arguing that law enforcement should have access to this kind of surveillance.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
22 Jan. 2026
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Scientists may have solved a cosmic mystery that has been troubling them since the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) began observations back in 2022.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Farmers week often brings out the rain, wind and fog in a place most people think of as perpetually sunny and 72.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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There is also a potential for freezing fog in North and Central Texas for Tuesday and Wednesday morning, according to NWS.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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There will be still rocky places of frustration and meandering points of bewilderment.—
Lydia Price,
PEOPLE,
19 Jan. 2026
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The case, which has shone a spotlight on chronic staff shortages and funding gaps in the country's medical system, has provoked anger and bewilderment from Russian politicians and online commentators.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puzzlement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzlement. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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