perplexed
Americanadjective
-
bewildered; puzzled.
a perplexed state of mind.
-
complicated; involved; entangled.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of perplexed
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English perplex “confused,” from Latin perplexus ( see per-, complex) + -ed 2
Explanation
Use the adjective perplexed to describe someone who is utterly baffled or confused. If you've ever studied for the wrong test and been surprised and confused by the exam in front of you, you've been perplexed. There's a particular bewildered kind of facial expression that goes along with the word perplexed. It's the kind of emotion that's hard to disguise. The Latin root perplexus means "confused or entangled," and "entangled" is a great way to imagine the tangled thoughts and confusion of someone who's perplexed.
Vocabulary lists containing perplexed
The Crucible
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Emotions on Display
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In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Interviewers sometimes seem perplexed at why she would work for so little.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026
Under Ian’s wise, patient and perplexed guidance, the committee—and the games—lurch from one crisis to another, some large, some small, some global.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026
The perplexed faces of the agency people in those conference rooms feel familiar to me today.
From Slate • Apr. 23, 2026
“I’m perplexed. My membership is perplexed as to why they didn’t go into effect because we knew that this was going to help. We’re at a standstill right now,” Clark said.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026
While her parents and brother were perplexed and troubled by his comments, Citra understood the point he was making.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
