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
Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025
Even more puzzling was the late move to bring in striker Odsonne Edouard from Crystal Palace to take up the second and last available Premier League loan, paying a large proportion of his considerable wages to boot.
—Rob Tanner, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
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
Sorrentino’s silky sleek yet rather empty cipher is alluring, puzzling and even quite funny, whether that’s always its maker’s intention or not.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025
Even more puzzling was the late move to bring in striker Odsonne Edouard from Crystal Palace to take up the second and last available Premier League loan, paying a large proportion of his considerable wages to boot.
—Rob Tanner, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
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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Great moments should always possess an inexplicable quality and this one had plenty of those.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
-
Trump, too, has inexplicable lapses of babbling and has fallen asleep at inauspicious moments.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
29 May 2025
Adjective
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Even more perplexing: If shutting off service to new customers without an account is their strict policy, why wait until Friday to execute it?—
Ryan Minton,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
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Part of the reason structures like the Hercules–Corona Borealis Great Wall are so perplexing to scientists has to do with the cosmological principle, which most models of the cosmos are founded upon.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Carlton Reid Based on 20 years of observations by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, new research sheds light on one of the solar system’s most mysterious planets.—
Ryan Waniata,
Wired News,
27 May 2025
-
Denim shifts toward a mysterious direction in Blooming Darkness.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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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
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Here, the end of the world seems both baffling and boring.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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Consumers have gotten used to a complicated annual plan selection, confusing industry jargon, and incomprehensible coverage policies.—
Dan Gingiss,
Forbes.com,
11 Apr. 2025
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Every version of it, whether recorded in a studio, live with a full orchestra or only a piano, just rails through absolutely incomprehensible storytelling (something about virgins on a spaceship?) with a lusty guitar and smashed piano chords.—
Shana Naomi Krochmal,
Vulture,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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When things move fast, when expectations are unclear or when there’s a fear of looking bad, people naturally go into self-protective mode.—
Saby Waraich,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
-
What remains unclear There are uncertainties about CIF’s changes, especially regarding new placement rules.—
Molly Gibbs,
Sacbee.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Joining me is my Staten Island brother, Pete Davidson, who unveils a darker, dramatic side as his character navigates a bizarre group of residents in an old age home.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
29 May 2025
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Part of that stems from fewer bizarre storytelling choices (good!), and part of it is a byproduct of an overly cautious attitude toward character development (bad).—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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Over time, however, the label lost credibility—undermined by vague accounting, low-quality offsets, and limited transparency.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
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On the surface, Brunson’s comments were vague – even harmless.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Puzzling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzling. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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