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

Three days after the boy discovered the remains, more remains were found by Hamilton County firefighters, perplexing investigators, the station reported. —CBS News, 7 Jan. 2025

Mangione, who frequently posted online about his struggles with back pain, was reportedly never a UnitedHealthcare client, adding a perplexing dimension to the case. —Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025

Short-yardage situations continue to be an issue The Dolphins hold the distinction of being the NFL’s worst short-yardage team for three straight seasons, and there’s no end in sight for this perplexing issue. —Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 Jan. 2025

The theme’s implicit insouciance becomes perplexing when accompanied by scientific studies and even a World Health Organization report touting the healing properties of art. —Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined above