perplexed

adjective

per·​plexed pər-ˈplekst 

1

: filled with uncertainty : puzzled

2

: full of difficulty

perplexedly

pər-ˈplek-səd-lē  -ˈplekst-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• baffled
• confounded
• hard put
• hard-pressed
• nonplussed
• nonplused

Examples of perplexed in a Sentence

He gave her a perplexed look.

The explanation left me thoroughly perplexed.

Recent Examples on the Web

But something’s also got Kat looking very perplexed, and given that this is The Way Home, the mysterious source of her confusion could be anything from a time-travel twist to a relationship speedbump. —Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 15 Dec. 2024

Well, prepare to be incredulous or at least a little perplexed. —Clem Chambers, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

The American Kennel Club (AKC) highlights behaviors that can leave dogs seemingly perplexed, suggesting that dogs may experience something akin to confusion in certain situations. —Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024

That left Ferentz to answer for McNamara’s situation on Tuesday, and the head coach seemed perplexed by how to describe it. —Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, 23 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1