puzzling

adjective

puz·​zling ˈpə-zə-liŋ How to pronounce puzzling (audio)
ˈpəz-liŋ
: difficult to understand or solve
puzzling symptoms
puzzlingly adverb

Examples of puzzling in a Sentence

The directions are somewhat puzzling.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The digging sticks, curved root-slicers, and a handful of somewhat puzzling implements were all found at a lakeshore site called Gantangqing. ArsTechnica, 7 July 2025 Down the stretch and into the playoffs, he was also hampered by a puzzling illness that clearly impacted his effectiveness. Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025 Upon further investigation, Mazzola learned the puzzling way UnitedHealthcare diverted the money — drawing up checks payable to Mazzola’s practice and then depositing them into a UnitedHealthcare bank account, the documents show. Gretchen Morgenson, NBC news, 20 June 2025 Tasters found this burger to have a puzzling aftertaste that turned them off. Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for puzzling

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1659, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of puzzling was circa 1659

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Cite this Entry

“Puzzling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puzzling. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

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