as in baffling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
There’s the energy and fight, which seems to have gone out of this team like an electric factory doused by a baffling power outage, and the frustration that there don’t seem to be any clear solutions, never mind quick fixes.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2025
-
Here, the end of the world seems both baffling and boring.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2025
Verb
-
Researchers are particularly focused on unraveling the puzzling interplay between gas content, magma pressure and lava flow dynamics.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
3 Jan. 2025
-
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
-
All of which is just my way of explaining why fans, who love these stories, might be distraught and might see all the success Martin has had thanks to his unfinished work and the support of his fans, as frustrating.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
-
To help avoid these frustrating and disappointing situations, travelers should plan to bring along a healthy dose of skepticism on their next trip—and think twice before paying for any offer that sounds too good to be true.—
Jessica Puckett,
Travel + Leisure,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
His message after another bewildering loss was that what’s done is done.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Photos showed the group seemingly confused about what was happening during the moment.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
21 May 2025
-
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
-
Jacques Pavlovsky / Sygma / Getty Images file The path to deportation started with America’s role in resettling refugees, advocates say The challenges, advocates say, can be traced back to the unorganized resettlement effort.—
Kimmy Yam,
NBC news,
20 May 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
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
-
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 7 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share