as in baffling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in complicating
to make complex or difficult
let's not perplex the issue further with irrelevant concerns
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in puzzling
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the question perplexed me
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of perplexing
Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 2 Feb. 2025
Few stories are as perplexing and tragic as that of Mary the elephant.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
The universe's acceleration challenges predictions made by Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity, making dark energy one of the most perplexing mysteries in modern cosmology.
—Victoria Corless, Space.com, 6 Jan. 2025
But figuring out how to style an oversized shirt can be perplexing—even for the most confident dresser.
—Christina Holevas, Vogue, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexing
Adjective
The apparent identity mix-up is a key point of confusion in a detailed and often perplexing set of allegations that Webb is lodging publicly against Jones and Thao.
—Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 2 Feb. 2025
Few stories are as perplexing and tragic as that of Mary the elephant.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
The universe's acceleration challenges predictions made by Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity, making dark energy one of the most perplexing mysteries in modern cosmology.
—Victoria Corless, Space.com, 6 Jan. 2025
But figuring out how to style an oversized shirt can be perplexing—even for the most confident dresser.
—Christina Holevas, Vogue, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perplexing
Adjective
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Starting five is settling in One of the most baffling aspects of the Celtics’ six-week swoon was how poorly their preferred starting lineup was performing.—
Zack Cox,
Hartford Courant,
24 Feb. 2025
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Back in 2009, Najib thought, for some baffling reason, that Malaysia needed another state investment scheme on top of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the real sovereign wealth fund.—
William Pesek,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 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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What’s especially frustrating to people involved in ferret conservation is that funding and staff resources were already limited heading into 2025.—
Benji Jones,
Vox,
26 Feb. 2025
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Most welcomed this move, even if the timing was frustrating.—
Louis Staples,
Rolling Stone,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Trump’s sense of his own royalty helps explain at least some of the bewildering changes of recent days.—
Bill McKibben,
The New Yorker,
20 Feb. 2025
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All of the above is being considered in isolation without the bewildering problems of domestic politics and foreign policy.—
David Szondy,
New Atlas,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Emily Keeney Dated or disorganized houses become functional, fresh homes in the hands of Drift Interiors + Architecture.—
Elizabeth Stamp,
Architectural Digest,
10 Feb. 2025
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To mix metaphors as badly as this doc overcomplicates Combs’ case by tackling the topic too early and from too many angles, this research is so disorganized that the story resembles something akin to deranged lobbyists throwing spaghetti at the wall through a shotgun.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Things seem out of alignment, from confused brand names, dates and products to upsets creating conflict and negativity, impacting customer appeal.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
Fox News,
3 Mar. 2025
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The broadcast then cut to Berry looking slightly confused and wiping her lips, prompting criticism for Brody kissing Berry without consent.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
EW.com,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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At Vintage Frills, unorganized shelves, racks bursting with thousands of random pieces, and having to browse through mountains of fast fashion clothes bought last year—that, naturally, someone threw away when trends changed—are a thing of the past.—
Grace Butler,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2025
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That, in turn, could help businesses sort through troves of messy unorganized datasets faster and find patterns and data points to help make decisions.—
Rashi Shrivastava,
Forbes,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In the past, Jamil has openly discussed her own journey recovering from anorexia and disordered eating.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
27 Dec. 2024
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Thus did the conservative loose cannonballs come eventually to dominate the GOP—and define our disordered political era.—
Daniel Schlozman & Sam Rosenfeld / Made by History,
TIME,
10 June 2024
Cite this Entry
“Perplexing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perplexing. Accessed 8 Mar. 2025.
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