as in mysteries
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 baffles
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
it is the cause of the disease that puzzles doctors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 puzzles
Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Chuckling at Bane's childish prank calls, unlocking silly cosmetic suits, and collaborating with my family to solve puzzles made for not just a great game, but some fantastic family memories.
—Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 26 May 2026
The Production Values Changed The Category The strongest operators also understood early that immersion required more than puzzles alone.
—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
All puzzles are free to exchange.
—Sarah Z. Sleeper, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
The proof used advanced concepts such as infinite class field towers and Golod-Shafarevich theory, tools rarely associated with geometric puzzles.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 May 2026
Thank you again from all the Daily News readers who do her puzzles.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026
ABC News, 20 Feb. 2026
While everyone else puzzles it over, Coe is already on his way to the multi-faith ceremony at Abbotsfield, where Mayor Jaffrey is joining other mourners to honor the 11 people killed in the assault that opened the season.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
—Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Chuckling at Bane's childish prank calls, unlocking silly cosmetic suits, and collaborating with my family to solve puzzles made for not just a great game, but some fantastic family memories.
—Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 26 May 2026
The Production Values Changed The Category The strongest operators also understood early that immersion required more than puzzles alone.
—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
All puzzles are free to exchange.
—Sarah Z. Sleeper, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
The proof used advanced concepts such as infinite class field towers and Golod-Shafarevich theory, tools rarely associated with geometric puzzles.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 May 2026
Thank you again from all the Daily News readers who do her puzzles.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026
Verb
The lineage of these hybrids traces back to Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island, a discovery that still puzzles scientists today.
—ABC News, 20 Feb. 2026
While everyone else puzzles it over, Coe is already on his way to the multi-faith ceremony at Abbotsfield, where Mayor Jaffrey is joining other mourners to honor the 11 people killed in the assault that opened the season.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzles
Noun
-
In this volume are all the wild, enthused lines, stoked for life’s daily mysteries, and all the tender elevations that we have been used to experiencing in the poetry of Eileen Myles!—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
-
Solving one of the mysteries will not necessarily unlock all the others.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Multiple baffles within the bladder help keep the liquid from sloshing around excessively, while a wide waterproof zipper across the top makes for easy filling, cleaning, and adding of electrolytes.—
Ben Coxworth
May 11,
New Atlas,
11 May 2026
-
This baffles and outrages Angela, a protective mom who, with other parents, pushes back against Gabor using her math classroom as a forum for introducing the outside world’s worst actions.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But the unknown in that equation is what perplexes the Mavericks and has the team stuck for now.—
Tim Cowlishaw,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
If a portal confuses you, call the provider, pharmacy or insurance plan directly using the number on your card or the official website.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
-
The odor masks the scent of animals' preferred vegetables and confuses insect pests, including aphids, carrot flies, cabbage worms and loopers, spider mites, thrips, and Japanese beetles.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Nandi is experiencing severe insomnia, tremors and psychosis, and her quickly deteriorating condition bewilders the emergency room staff.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The designs were puckish and gender-bending, evoking both awe and repulsion—the sort of clothing that titillates lovers of conceptual fashion and bewilders the uninitiated.—
Ana Karina Zatarain,
New Yorker,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Puzzles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzles. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
