perplexing 1 of 2

perplexing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of perplex

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
Adjective
Why our leader makes these drastic decisions to benefit the earlier mentioned Vladimir is perplexing and there are plenty of juicy explanations in circulation. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 14 Mar. 2025 However, what was perplexing was with with seconds dwindling on the clock in the fourth quarter, down one, the Yellow Jackets Tonie Morgan brings the ball up the court and passes it off to Dani Carnegie. Allison Smith, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025 Mediumship does not belong to some incredulous or demented margins; it can be practiced ethically by individuals trained through empirical standards to address the uncanny and perplexing phenomena beyond our five-sense world. Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025 One of the most perplexing and seemingly antiquated features of City Hall got a lot of use Tuesday: a bulletin board where motions are posted for public viewing. Tony Barboza, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for perplexing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perplexing
Adjective
  • While Joel is essentially the same character in both, Ellie was changed in pretty baffling ways for the show.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • But the reality is that this was a microcosm of this thrilling, frustrating and baffling Wolves season.
    Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 9 Apr. 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
  • Very few things are more frustrating than Wi-Fi that lags mid-stream, mid-binge, or mid-video calls.
    Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
  • As frustrating as learning my bearings can be at times, the a-ha moments are always a joy.
    Diego Argüello, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The ominous thriller received a second trailer on Tuesday (April 1) as the Toronto singer/actor took viewers further into his bewildering odyssey.
    Michael Saponara, Billboard, 1 Apr. 2025
  • But for those of us who consider a walk of over a half-mile a squandered opportunity to knock a golf ball hither and yon, Los Angeles offers a bewildering array of worthy courses to explore for players of all levels.
    David Weiss, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The doc chronicles the events and tactics that transformed live performance from disorganized, low-fi events to international tours, arenas, and, eventually, into a global empire — and at 86 years old, Delsener is still at it, and remains a familiar presence at New York concerts.
    Jem Aswad, Variety, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The Bay Area’s NWSL side could be playing in a distracted and disorganized fashion, what with the active investigation into Montoya and the coaching staff that is hanging over their heads.
    Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • And while my four rides in Waymo's Jaguar i-Pace vehicles around Los Angeles last summer didn't feature any such fits of indecisiveness, the cars have had their own confused moments.
    Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 8 Apr. 2025
  • As Chelsea, Wood widens her eyes and slants her eyebrows up when confused, bares her teeth and scrunches her whole face in terror, and barely contains her smile when smitten.
    Ashliene McMenamy, Allure, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Brazil was sloppy and unorganized in defense, which allowed Argentina to attack effectively in transition.
    Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Some of these independent and semi-independent groups already bemoan Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s signing of Minsk II and have been critical of civilian and military officials’ handling of the war, particularly the unorganized Ukrainian retreat at Debaltseve.
    Paul Stronski, Foreign Affairs, 17 Mar. 2015
Adjective
  • In the past, Jamil has openly discussed her own journey recovering from anorexia and disordered eating.
    Rachel Raposas, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024
  • Thus did the conservative loose cannonballs come eventually to dominate the GOP—and define our disordered political era.
    Daniel Schlozman & Sam Rosenfeld / Made by History, TIME, 10 June 2024

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Perplexing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perplexing. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on perplexing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!