1
as in inexplicable
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in perplexing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in baffling
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
it is the cause of the disease that puzzles doctors
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of puzzling
Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 11 Dec. 2024
Next game: Idle Safe scale: 9/10 After one of the most puzzling losses in the history of its rivalry with Michigan, which had entered as a severe underdog, Ohio State dropped four spots and might be the most miserable team ever in line to make the playoff.
—Andrew Greif, NBC News, 6 Dec. 2024
Evan Bush, NBC News, 22 Dec. 2024
The recent sightings of puzzling unidentified aircraft in New Jersey and other states have triggered yet another round of unanswered questions — and fueled conspiracy theories.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 21 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for puzzling 
Adjective
Colliton found the trend both notable and puzzling, as the rate of package theft is generally higher in urban areas.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 11 Dec. 2024
Next game: Idle Safe scale: 9/10 After one of the most puzzling losses in the history of its rivalry with Michigan, which had entered as a severe underdog, Ohio State dropped four spots and might be the most miserable team ever in line to make the playoff.
—Andrew Greif, NBC News, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
But in several puzzling cases, no source of infection has been identified.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 22 Dec. 2024
The recent sightings of puzzling unidentified aircraft in New Jersey and other states have triggered yet another round of unanswered questions — and fueled conspiracy theories.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 21 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for puzzling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzling
Adjective
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After two Mahomes completions, including a seemingly inexplicable 25-yard pass to wide open Kelce in the middle of the field, Harrison Butker made a game-tying 49-yard field goal as time expired.—
Jack Magruder,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
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Due to bots requesting OTPs without follow-through in registration, developers and product managers are left grappling with inexplicable disparities between actual registered and paying users.—
Ethan Stone,
USA TODAY,
12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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With new mysteries such as dark matter, dark energy, the search for a quantum theory of gravity, the Hubble tension and the cause of the Big Bang all perplexing physicists, now would be a great time for another transformation in science akin to that of a century ago.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
17 Jan. 2025
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One of the more perplexing things about the Kings over the first half of the season has been their abysmal home record.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacramento Bee,
2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The groundbreaking find, the researchers claim, could reshape our understanding of the universe and its most powerful and mysterious signals.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA TODAY,
27 Jan. 2025
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Several years later, Hoffa disappeared under mysterious circumstances and was never seen again.—
David Wharton,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Other than Notre Dame’s baffling performances in the Cayman Islands against TCU and Utah, the Big 12 didn’t have many marquee victories in nonconference play.—
Sabreena Merchant,
The Athletic,
20 Jan. 2025
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This decision is a baffling swerve for a celebrity biopic, one that will probably keep it from becoming an out-and-out sensation.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Also, incomprehensible to anyone that understands water policy in the state.—
NBC News,
NBC News,
12 Jan. 2025
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Humans may occasionally make seemingly random, incomprehensible, and inconsistent mistakes, but such occurrences are rare and often indicative of more serious problems.—
Bruce Schneier,
IEEE Spectrum,
11 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Whether this is something the Trump administration will support remains unclear.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
18 Jan. 2025
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Drone restrictions sparked by a spate of mysterious sightings across New Jersey are set to expire this weekend — even though their origins still remain unclear.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Does that explain his bizarre excursion to allow Arnaut Danjuma to score?—
Greg O'Keeffe,
The Athletic,
30 Jan. 2025
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Archaeologists have uncovered a series of bizarre ancient burials in France.—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Kelley Black has emphatically denied the charges cited in the school board’s 10-page report, calling them vague, false and misleading and suggesting that politics is playing a role in the board’s action.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Jan. 2025
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The designation is so broad and vague that ranches in Texas or farms in California could be swept up by the penalties if their employees send remittances to family members in Mexico who are involved in organized crime.—
Maria Abi-Habib,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near puzzling
Cite this Entry
“Puzzling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzling. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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