as in mystery
something hard to understand or explain
the final fate of the colonists at Roanoke remains a puzzle to this very day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to baffle
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
it is the cause of the disease that puzzles doctors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to solve
to find an answer for through reasoning
I was able to puzzle out the riddle in a fairly short time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of puzzle
Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2025
The four spacecraft associated with the mission — three wide-field imagers (WFI) and a near-field imager (NFI) — can work together to isolate specific features within the solar wind that may hold clues to the puzzle's solution.
—Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2025
An unusual house on the real estate market in Newport, Tennessee, is causing a bit of a stir thanks to its puzzling interior and community pool-like exterior.
—Tj MacIas, Charlotte Observer, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for puzzle
Noun
This beautiful Quince crossbody bag is a puzzle bag dupe, and can easily hold a compact mini umbrella with some room to spare.
—Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2025
The four spacecraft associated with the mission — three wide-field imagers (WFI) and a near-field imager (NFI) — can work together to isolate specific features within the solar wind that may hold clues to the puzzle's solution.
—Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
The explosion puzzled market watchers given the small amount of shares available to the public.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2025
An unusual house on the real estate market in Newport, Tennessee, is causing a bit of a stir thanks to its puzzling interior and community pool-like exterior.
—Tj MacIas, Charlotte Observer, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for puzzle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzle
mystery
Noun
-
Since her legal issues with Baldoni began, Lively starred in May's Another Simple Favor, a sequel to her 2018 mystery, also from Lionsgate.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
EW.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
The mystery was solved via coincidence and the outcome was deeply unsatisfying.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Puzzle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzle. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share