1
as in complicating
to make complex or difficult
let's not perplex the issue further with irrelevant concerns
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
as in baffling
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of perplexing
Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 17 June 2025
In the end, Blakey said, the forces that landed Madigan in his courtroom were perplexing.
—Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2025
To Boltzmann’s contemporaries, this was perplexing.
—Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 11 June 2025
Discovering a galaxy without dark matter is indeed perplexing, like finding a shadow without a source.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexing
Verb
Ehlers’ usage with the Jets has long been perplexing with 2024-25 being his third straight season playing under 16 minutes.
—Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 17 June 2025
In the end, Blakey said, the forces that landed Madigan in his courtroom were perplexing.
—Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2025
To Boltzmann’s contemporaries, this was perplexing.
—Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 11 June 2025
Discovering a galaxy without dark matter is indeed perplexing, like finding a shadow without a source.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perplexing
Adjective
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Still, for many of the players who were dominant during tennis’ defining era, today’s shrunken audiences are somewhat baffling, given the athleticism on display and the dizzying velocity of the aggro-baseliner game.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
27 June 2025
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Rejecting 2010’s Inception when Nolan was coming off his blockbuster masterpiece The Dark Knight, however, seems like a more baffling move.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2025
Verb
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Researchers are particularly focused on unraveling the puzzling interplay between gas content, magma pressure and lava flow dynamics.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
3 Jan. 2025
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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
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The Copycat Conundrum: When Local Laws Protect Your Competitors Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of international franchising involves dealing with local copycat operations that exploit legal protections designed for domestic businesses.—
Mohaimina Haque,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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While these noises may not impact your daily life much, your neighbors deciding to start their yardwork could be frustrating.—
Cailey Gleeson,
jsonline.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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Amazon With a bewildering array of colorful smart lighting for any occasion, Govee is an affordable alternative to brands like Philips Hue.—
Simon Hill,
Wired News,
10 July 2025
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The number of color swatches and leather/fabric samples is bewildering.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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Germany went unbeaten in their Nations League group with 26 goals scored in six games, including four against a disorganized Dutch defense and six past Austria in the last month.—
Neel Shelat,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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The system is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms with a 10% chance of tropical development, NHC said.—
Elainie Barraza,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 June 2025
Adjective
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The home appeared on Zillow Gone Wild, a Facebook page that highlights unique houses on the real estate market, and people were a little confused about the interior style.—
TJ Macias
July 10,
Miami Herald,
10 July 2025
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Everyone was very confused about whether the watch’s band could be resized because only one kind of wrist was shown in the commercial.—
Seth Reiss,
New Yorker,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Bathrooms that appear messy or unorganized often have products in them that don't belong in a bathroom.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
20 June 2025
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Chaos Gardens Can Attract Pests and Diseases A dense, unorganized garden can restrict airflow and trap humidity, creating perfect conditions for fungal diseases.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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The cells have an ugly, disordered appearance under a microscope.—
Adam B. Kushner,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Perplexing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perplexing. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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