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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of perplexed
Jacob Orledge, ProPublica, 4 Aug. 2025
Cuvala describes herself as feeling perplexed by the recent direction of the board.
—ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2025
David Clarey, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Brewers owner Bud Selig, who would later become MLB commissioner, was perplexed at how a team could win 13 straight in April and then lose 12 straight in May.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexed
Adjective
That’s why families like the Skarphols say they were perplexed when the deductions began.
—Jacob Orledge, ProPublica, 4 Aug. 2025
Cuvala describes herself as feeling perplexed by the recent direction of the board.
—ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2025
Verb
Norman is perplexed by shootings like this.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Brewers owner Bud Selig, who would later become MLB commissioner, was perplexed at how a team could win 13 straight in April and then lose 12 straight in May.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perplexed
Adjective
-
The clear stance that the club has spent every available penny of their PSR allowance left many baffled, but the club’s accounts over the coming years will reveal all.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
-
And my parents are even baffled.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The election is complicated by the fact that Brown faces felony fraud charges.—
Josh Bergeron,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
-
This year, however, her 17-year-old stepdaughter made a request that has complicated everything.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Finally, the object had an unusual shape that puzzled astronomers.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
This mystery puzzled scientists because ice was not supposed to behave like that.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Wednesday confronts Bianca, who is bewildered about her Siren-song not sticking; Wednesday is taking control of things now and Bianca needs to trust her.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Layered in cream, bruised, bewildered, bald.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The bad weather may have been a better option for the Dolphins as they were embarrassed by the Colts, with a final score of 30-8.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
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Getty Images The President fired the nation’s top labor statistician because the jobs numbers embarrassed him.—
Teresa Ghilarducci,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The office had been working with elderly, low-income and disabled people to see what most confused them about SSA processes and what would most help them if these were redesigned.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
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Forgive some Colorado Avalanche fans if they’re confused by the lack of noise as training camp beckons.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perplexed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perplexed. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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