puzzlement

1 a state of mental uncertainty her explanation did little to relieve his puzzlement Synonyms bafflement, bamboozlement, befuddlement, bemusement, bewilderedness, bewilderment, confusedness, discombobulation, distraction, fog, head-scratching, maze [chiefly dialect], muddle, mystification, perplexity, confusion, tangle, whirlRelated Words abashment, discomfiture, disconcertment, embarrassment, mortification; agitation, chagrin, discomfort, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturbance, perturbation, upset; bother, commotion, dither, flurry, fluster, fuss, stew, turmoilNear Antonyms assurance, certainty, certitude, confidence, conviction, positiveness, sureness

2 something hard to understand or explain the whole situation remains a puzzlement to everyone who was there Synonyms closed book, conundrum, enigma, head-scratcher, mystification, puzzle, mystery, riddle, secretRelated Words brainteaser, case, challenge, knot, matter, perplexity, poser, problem, stumper, trouble