perplexing

adjective

per·​plex·​ing pər-ˈplek-siŋ 

: difficult to understand : causing confusion

A perplexing feature of insomnia is that people seem to overestimate their sleep loss.

—Rita L. Atkinson et al.

Chronic acalculous biliary disorders are among the most perplexing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in medicine.

—Richard M. Gore

A perplexing problem, often encountered by cat owners, is that of a refusal to use the litterbox after using it for years in the past.

—Susan L. Mathews

perplexingly adverb

a perplexingly complex problem

This was all that I could observe of her in the dim light and under the perplexingly strange circumstances of our meeting.

—Wilkie Collins

Examples of perplexing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the hands of the Surrealist Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, the answer is a resounding — and perplexing — yes. —Evan Moffitt, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024

There are perplexing plans and plot developments that could arguably rise to the level of plot holes. —Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2024

On the other hand, the profusion of perfume content in isolation and across social media was perplexing. —Molly Young, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024

Made to withstand the harsh climate of the desert and thrive in it, the dead and decaying desert plants throughout the Sonoran landscape may be perplexing to those who see it. —Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024

In an interesting and perplexing turn of natural events, the large female bass that were protecting their eggs with their lives just hours before can turn cannibalistic and begin feeding on their very own hatchlings. —Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 6 Mar. 2024

His demand to be reinstated at Verve is perplexing in light of his efforts, as reported in the press, to try to start a small agency of his own. —Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Feb. 2024

Not pursuing future third-party IP might make business sense, but abandoning a project that would so obviously be a huge hit is perplexing and disappointing to say the least. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

For those just arriving, being caught in the middle of the nation’s debate over immigration can feel perplexing. —Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined above