as in baffling
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in complicating
to make complex or difficult
let's not perplex the issue further with irrelevant concerns
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in puzzling
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the question perplexed me
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of perplexing
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 9 May 2025
For economists, America’s organ shortage is a perplexing public health problem.
—Steven Levitt, Boston Herald, 6 May 2025
Photo: Alfama Films No one writes dialogue like Cronenberg — perplexing alien dialogue, a sci-fi tongue of oddball terminology and metaphysical shop talk.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
These poetic yet perplexing directions are a hallmark of heirloom recipes, passed down in an era when cooking was more about intuition than exact measurements.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexing
Adjective
His insight and unconventional approach to understanding human behavior lead him and the team on a series of intense, unexpected journeys to solve illogical puzzles and perplexing mysteries.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 9 May 2025
For economists, America’s organ shortage is a perplexing public health problem.
—Steven Levitt, Boston Herald, 6 May 2025
Photo: Alfama Films No one writes dialogue like Cronenberg — perplexing alien dialogue, a sci-fi tongue of oddball terminology and metaphysical shop talk.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
These poetic yet perplexing directions are a hallmark of heirloom recipes, passed down in an era when cooking was more about intuition than exact measurements.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perplexing
Adjective
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There’s also the return of Esai Morales as the mustache-twirling villain whose motivation is as baffling as the Entity itself.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
14 May 2025
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This was baffling to many observers, including this one, and was widely ridiculed, even receiving a friendly jab from rival, Peacock.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
Verb
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Researchers are particularly focused on unraveling the puzzling interplay between gas content, magma pressure and lava flow dynamics.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
3 Jan. 2025
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Almost two years into his ordeal, Gould learned of an initiative at the National Institutes of Health that focuses on solving the country’s most puzzling medical cases.—
Jason Liebowitz,
The Atlantic,
2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Both English teams have been experiencing frustrating, parallel worlds as the pair have struggled mightily in the Premier League.—
David Close,
CNN Money,
22 May 2025
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The New York Mets scored three runs in the seventh to snap a 1-1 tie en route to a 5-1 win over the Red Sox on a frustrating night.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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But by the end, Sirens shifts gears again and descends into bewildering melodrama with a nonsensical final twist that feels tacked on for the sake of having a big final twist.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
22 May 2025
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His message after another bewildering loss was that what’s done is done.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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As each attendee enters and takes off their shoes and adds them to the disorganized pile near the front of the door, a host asks them their intention for the evening.—
Lina Abascal,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2025
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Gilroy’s dark wit has been used sparingly in Andor, but the sniping in between the disorganized sorta-rebels is a comic highlight.—
Jesse Hassenger,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Photos showed the group seemingly confused about what was happening during the moment.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
21 May 2025
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The audio proves otherwise as the recordings show Biden was confused, rambling, and couldn’t even remember when his son Beau died.—
Doug Friednash,
Denver Post,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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Opponents were caught unorganized and unprepared for a stunning initial torrent of actions, firings of workers, cancellations of programs and abolition of organizations established by Congress over many decades.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
16 Feb. 2025
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The role may not sound as glamorous as engineering or client acquisition, but without project managers--the glue that holds everything together--businesses would be completely unorganized, lose profits, and fall way behind customer expectations.—
Rachel Wells,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In more severe cases, this ongoing pattern may erode a parent’s relationship with food, leading to emotional or disordered eating that feels increasingly difficult to name, let alone break.—
Christine Michel Carter,
Parents,
20 May 2025
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Consequently, disordered labor disputes have added to the sense of lawlessness and have worsened the economic decline.—
Lindsay Benstead,
Foreign Affairs,
14 Feb. 2013
Cite this Entry
“Perplexing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perplexing. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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