as in baffled
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do
the convoluted instructions for calibrating a high-definition television will leave many consumers utterly perplexed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in complicated
to make complex or difficult
let's not perplex the issue further with irrelevant concerns
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in puzzled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the question perplexed me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of perplexed
Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, 23 Nov. 2024
At an Omaha Beach event honoring the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion, Dr. Jill Biden quickly escorts Joe Biden away leaving a seemingly perplexed French President Emmanuel Macron to honor WW2 veterans alone.
—Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu and Sara Swann, Austin American-Statesman, 8 June 2024
Margot Robbie is still perplexed why Babylon didn’t get a good reception from moviegoers.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 27 Nov. 2024
Merriman was also among those who were left perplexed by the production’s quality.
—Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for perplexed 
Adjective
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
At an Omaha Beach event honoring the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion, Dr. Jill Biden quickly escorts Joe Biden away leaving a seemingly perplexed French President Emmanuel Macron to honor WW2 veterans alone.
—Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu and Sara Swann, Austin American-Statesman, 8 June 2024
Margot Robbie is still perplexed why Babylon didn’t get a good reception from moviegoers.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 27 Nov. 2024
Merriman was also among those who were left perplexed by the production’s quality.
—Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for perplexed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perplexed
Adjective
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Now, a development that once baffled educators and administrators is ready to go mainstream.Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 31 Dec. 2024
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Other stories explore similar themes in equally bizarre situations: In 1880s London, a very suave Joseph Merrick, aka The Elephant Man, flirts shamelessly with the smitten wife of his very baffled doctor (Goldsberry and Kind, respectively).Greg Evans, Deadline, 22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Yes, Sam Darnold looked bewildered against Detroit in the regular season finale, and that conjures all sorts of lingering doubts.Jordan Brenner, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
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The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore brought different weapons to this cute fight: bobcat Kilgore and otter Brie, both seeming a little bewildered by the powder that surrounded them today.NBC News, NBC News, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Many people get confused by these forms which contain code and jargon that rarely offer a clear explanation of anything.Steve Weisman, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
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Many were left confused as to how or why the Yankees couldn't have matched that number to bring the Gold Glove first baseman to the Bronx.Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near perplexed
Cite this Entry
“Perplexed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perplexed. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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