as in baffled
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do
the convoluted instructions for calibrating a high-definition television will leave many consumers utterly perplexed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in complicated
to make complex or difficult
let's not perplex the issue further with irrelevant concerns
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in puzzled
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
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Recent Examples of perplexed
Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026
The outstanding Dominik Szoboszlai, who had broken the deadlock with a clinical finish before being brought down by Ismail Jakobs inside the box, stood looking perplexed with his hands on his head as the aggregate score remained at 1-1.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
These are the brutally real snapshots of a man well acquainted with—but still perplexed by—the powerful and destructive forces that lord over our lives.
—Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perplexed
Adjective
Billie looks perplexed, but clearly Joe is working on Irene somehow, as Irene is hanging on his every word.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026
The outstanding Dominik Szoboszlai, who had broken the deadlock with a clinical finish before being brought down by Ismail Jakobs inside the box, stood looking perplexed with his hands on his head as the aggregate score remained at 1-1.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
Their presence prompted nervousness among beachgoers and surfers sharing the water, but marveled researchers who were perplexed by the abnormally longer stay close to shore.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
These are the brutally real snapshots of a man well acquainted with—but still perplexed by—the powerful and destructive forces that lord over our lives.
—Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perplexed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perplexed
Adjective
-
Not outraged but baffled, curious Kaho tries to find out his hidden message.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Scientist can’t be blamed for not recognizing the fleshy glob, because Relicanthus daphneae baffled experts for decades, the American Museum of Natural History reports.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Chief Deputy Medical Examiner Jonathan Lucas concluded that Patton’s death was an accident caused by acute bacterial bronchopneumonia complicated by influenza A, with substance use disorder and the effects of methadone listed as contributing factors.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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The injury to Polanco has complicated the Mets’ plan to replace longtime first baseman Pete Alonso, who left in the offseason for a five-year, $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The mass unemployment everyone feared is still missing Initial jobless claims rose to 214,000 in the most recent week surveyed but the overall trend remains down and Wall Street is slightly puzzled as to why.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The city’s handling of its project to improve Clairemont’s Olive Grove Park, which has been underway for nearly two years, has left the community puzzled.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Garcia says, acting out the usual blush of so many bewildered men.—
Darío Gael Blanco,
Vanity Fair,
25 Apr. 2026
-
My mother looked bewildered and even Father looked up.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Fitzpatrick and Team Europe embarrassed Team USA at Bethpage Black in the Fall.—
Mark Harris OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
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The transparency issue also became important after the board embarrassed itself by quietly boosting board members’ pay by 25% — with Foley being the only member opposed.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Valve’s upcoming Steam Controller (not to be confused with the 2015 controller of the same name) is the Steam maker’s effort to replace those controllers with something more explicitly designed for the PC, and for the upcoming Steam Machine.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
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The venomous coral snake does not have the telltale arrowhead shape and can often be confused with the nonvenomous kingsnake.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Members of the Senate Intelligence Committee were also nonplussed, and angry, when Gabbard appeared before them last month.—
Shane Harris,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Professional footballers do not generally take too kindly to this kind of showmanship, and Ben White, who was nearest to these crowd-pleasing flicks, was nonplussed.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perplexed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perplexed. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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