1
as in inexplicable
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2
as in perplexing
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Dissimilar Words
as in baffling
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
it is the cause of the disease that puzzles doctors
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Recent Examples of puzzling
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
While scientists have long understood the importance of this cloak, one aspect of its biology has remained deeply puzzling.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Orlando Sentinel and Miami Herald Editorial Boards, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
It's called speed puzzling — part rec room, family fun meets NBA Game 7 intensity.
—Brian Unger, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for puzzling
Adjective
Here are seven of the most puzzling plane disappearances in history.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
While scientists have long understood the importance of this cloak, one aspect of its biology has remained deeply puzzling.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
That’s puzzling because DeSantis has been an enthusiastic supporter of tax relief.
—Orlando Sentinel and Miami Herald Editorial Boards, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
It's called speed puzzling — part rec room, family fun meets NBA Game 7 intensity.
—Brian Unger, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for puzzling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzling
Adjective
-
The state’s inexplicable obsession with secrecy means no one knows.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
6 May 2026
-
Lego Horizon Adventures is an inexplicable mashup between the famous building blocks and Sony's widely popular open-world epic.—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
The whole situation was perplexing.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Our universe is full of mysteries, but few are as perplexing as the dark, tiny galaxies that hover around larger ones like the Milky Way.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The slow starts are baffling to Becht.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
As the castle’s internal order collapses under the weight of a string of baffling crimes, Araki strikes a fragile alliance with Kuroda Kanbei – a razor-minded captive languishing in his own dungeon – in a race to root out a traitor before Oda’s army closes in.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But when a mysterious aircraft sinks into the ocean, Ally’s peaceful world is suddenly thrown into danger and is thrust into a journey real-life marine creatures as the film explores themes of friendship and courage.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
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The Last House is about a family of four who are suddenly sealed inside their home with no way out and must work together to survive against both their dwindling resources and the mysterious, looming threat keeping them trapped.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Grief is one of the most confounding aspects of the human experience.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
-
In 2021, one year into D’Amaro’s tenure and following COVID shutdowns, Disney did away with FastPass and introduced a confounding and very costly series of pay-to-skip passes, which require timing advanced booking of limited slots in these formerly free-to-enter shorter lines.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But even more than engaging the big ideas that Emma’s revelation triggers — pun somewhat intended — Lee and Borli wanted to craft an experience that would mimic its main characters’ bewildering interiority.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
6 Apr. 2026
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There aren’t many ways to earn a club’s first win better than bewildering the league’s defending champions at their place.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The majesty of the natural world and the incomprehensible vastness of space are almost infinitely rearrangeable variables for documentarians.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Arthur is a creepy dude, a generic-looking cellphone store employee with an incomprehensible plan.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But what happened on April 21 was ominous and bizarre, not conventional.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
And would today’s more bizarre cast of characters prove even more compelling?—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puzzling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzling. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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