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

Your diet beverage is full of a slew of perplexing sugar substitutes, but the regular version has too much sugar to justify drinking it. —Andrew Watman, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

These questions have seemed both urgent and perplexing, not only to Ramos but to many others as well; whether Trump will repeat or exceed his performance with Latinos is one of the main unknowns that could determine the outcome of the election. —Geraldo Cadava, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2024

The Guardian reports that Queen Camilla had to calm down the King, 75, and explain what the perplexing plastic covering was. —Marina Watts, People.com, 8 Oct. 2024

This perplexing square could also trigger miscommunication and unrealistic expectations, making the need to clarify your intentions all the more crucial at this time. —Valerie Mesa, Peoplemag, 2 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined above