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
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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
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Recent Examples of puzzles
Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 7 May 2026
Apple works at this vertiginous juncture where Emily Dickinson goes rumbling into Etta James and, lately, Beyoncé; where Nico solves puzzles with Randy Newman, Kurt Weill, Nina Simone and the Beatles.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
To find her way out, Miskwa must solve puzzles and navigate different environments while learning Ojibwe words and phrases along the way.
—Joe Van Ryn, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Players will be able to switch battle track genres and create mashups, play puzzles and explore dungeon adventuring mechanics.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 7 Apr. 2026
The result is work that asks questions without presenting them as puzzles to be solved.
—Kristen Roupenian, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
—Jason Hidalgo, The Providence Journal, 6 Apr. 2026
This might include card games, fidget toys, coloring books, brain puzzles, magazines, sticker books—whatever your kid likes.
—​wendy Wisner, Parents, 6 Apr. 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!
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 7 May 2026
Apple works at this vertiginous juncture where Emily Dickinson goes rumbling into Etta James and, lately, Beyoncé; where Nico solves puzzles with Randy Newman, Kurt Weill, Nina Simone and the Beatles.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
To find her way out, Miskwa must solve puzzles and navigate different environments while learning Ojibwe words and phrases along the way.
—Joe Van Ryn, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Players will be able to switch battle track genres and create mashups, play puzzles and explore dungeon adventuring mechanics.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 7 Apr. 2026
The result is work that asks questions without presenting them as puzzles to be solved.
—Kristen Roupenian, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
—Jason Hidalgo, The Providence Journal, 6 Apr. 2026
This might include card games, fidget toys, coloring books, brain puzzles, magazines, sticker books—whatever your kid likes.
—​wendy Wisner, Parents, 6 Apr. 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
-
Although these practical applications are still on the horizon, the study highlights how physics can explore the natural world to solve long-standing mysteries.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
4 May 2026
-
The Hallmark Channel series is traveling back to 1920s Port Haven during its upcoming fourth and final season, as mysteries are unearthed and lingering questions about the past find a way to haunt the present-day Landry clan.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
3 May 2026
Verb
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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
-
His disaffection baffles his acquaintances and pains his tubercular wife (a superb Quinn Jackson), whose doctor (Lambert Tamin) has only contempt for her husband’s agonizing.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 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
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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
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The low-performing chefs are Rhoda, whose lamb confuses the kids; Sherry, whose grits were oddly flavored; and Oscar, whose puff pastry soaked up all the deep-fryer oil.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 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 9 May. 2026.
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