1
as in complicating
to make complex or difficult
let's not perplex the issue further with irrelevant concerns
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in puzzling
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the question perplexed me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in baffling
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of perplexing
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
The Longs lived by a perplexing tangle of unspoken rules anchored by the admonishment to never invite the neighbors over.
—Kristen Kidd, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025
Idaho Statesman, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexing
Verb
Chronic pain — that is more perplexing, with its biological purpose, if there even is one, proving elusive.
—Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
The Longs lived by a perplexing tangle of unspoken rules anchored by the admonishment to never invite the neighbors over.
—Kristen Kidd, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The criminal justice system In early April, a man failed to show up for his pretrial conference in Canyon County, perplexing his lawyer.
—Idaho Statesman, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perplexing
Verb
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Increasing barriers and complicating transactions will not help.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
9 Sep. 2025
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When performance declines, there are so many complicating factors to consider to arrive at the root issue.—
Melinda Fouts,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That’s baffling to me that it was even checked.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The preseason play wasn’t encouraging, and Canales’ decision to rest the starters in the exhibition finale looks even more puzzling in hindsight, especially after the offensive group produced three three-and-outs and one touchdown drive.—
DIAMOND VENCES,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
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One fact of the crime scene grabbed the most attention and remains to this day the most puzzling, tantalizing, and frightening aspect of the discovery of the body.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The mother, being a mother, finds fault and has embarrassing politics.—
Nathaniel Moore
September 10,
Literary Hub,
10 Sep. 2025
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On top of that already embarrassing history, Ravens longtime head coach John Harbaugh has made some unfortunate NFL history of his own.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And aren’t our real-life romantic complications bewildering enough?—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
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Its ginormous investments in higher-value, tech-heavy sectors from smartphones to autos to semiconductors to biotechnology are disrupting the global landscape at bewildering speed.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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And determining when someone is dead is the critical but confusing question at play.—
Cara Anthony,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
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For example, the eye glass space was largely fractured, confusing, and not customer-friendly before Warby Parker entered the scene with exceptional client experience, a focus on customer service and convenience, and a user-friendly product.—
Brandon Aversano,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Tuesday will go down as one of Boston’s most confounding losses of the season, a 4-3 defeat in 11 innings to the Baltimore Orioles in which the club went 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Over the course of a few hours in Washington on Tuesday, the increasingly muddled state of public health unfolded.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
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This is an impossible task – partly due to Trump’s own muddled thinking – but most importantly, because Putin does not want peace.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perplexing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perplexing. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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