perplexing

adjective

per·​plex·​ing pər-ˈplek-siŋ 

: difficult to understand : causing confusion

A perplexing feature of insomnia is that people seem to overestimate their sleep loss.

—Rita L. Atkinson et al.

Chronic acalculous biliary disorders are among the most perplexing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in medicine.

—Richard M. Gore

A perplexing problem, often encountered by cat owners, is that of a refusal to use the litterbox after using it for years in the past.

—Susan L. Mathews

perplexingly adverb

a perplexingly complex problem

This was all that I could observe of her in the dim light and under the perplexingly strange circumstances of our meeting.

—Wilkie Collins

Examples of perplexing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The most perplexing and concerning part of it all: TomoBoost still appears to be accepting new customers, charging prices ranging from $8.33 a month to $129.99 a month, depending on the tier of service and whether you’re billed monthly or annually. —Jeff Kauflin, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Hunting History dives into some of American history’s greatest and most perplexing mysteries through a new lens. —Peter White, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2024

The case was perplexing from the moment Patsy found a ransom note the morning of December 26, 1996. —Alessa Dominguez, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024

Green Bay Packers 34, Arizona Cardinals 13: The Cardinals might be the most perplexing team in the league. —Jace Evans, USA TODAY, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined above