puzzle

[puhz-uhl]

noun

1. a toy, problem, or other contrivance designed to amuse by presenting difficulties to be solved by ingenuity or patient effort.

2. something puzzling; a puzzling question, matter, or person.

3. a puzzled or perplexed condition; bewilderment.

4. a crossword puzzle.

   Did you do the puzzle in the newspaper today?

5. a jigsaw puzzle.

verb (used with object)

puzzled, puzzling 

1. to put (someone) at a loss; mystify; confuse; baffle.

   Her attitude puzzles me.

   Synonyms: confound

2. to frustrate or confound, as the understanding; perplex.

   The problem puzzled him for weeks.

3. to exercise (oneself, one's brain, etc.) over some problem or matter.

4. Archaic.,  to make intricate or complicated.

verb (used without object)

puzzled, puzzling 

1. to be perplexed or confused.

2. to ponder or study over some perplexing problem or matter.

verb phrase

1. puzzle out,  to solve by careful study or effort.

   I was unable to puzzle out the message.

puzzle

/ ˈpʌzəl /

verb

1. to perplex or be perplexed

2. to attempt the solution (of); ponder (about)

   he puzzled over her absence

3. to solve by mental effort

   he puzzled out the meaning of the inscription

noun

1. a person or thing that puzzles

2. a problem that cannot be easily or readily solved

3. the state or condition of being puzzled

4. a toy, game, or question presenting a problem that requires skill or ingenuity for its solution See jigsaw puzzle Chinese puzzle

Other Word Forms

• puzzling adjective
• puzzledly adverb
• puzzledness noun
• unpuzzle verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of puzzle¹

First recorded in 1585–95; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of puzzle¹

C16: of unknown origin

Synonym Study

Puzzle, riddle, enigma refer to something baffling or confusing that is to be solved. A puzzle is a question or problem, intricate enough to be perplexing to the mind; it is sometimes a contrivance made purposely perplexing to test one's ingenuity: a crossword puzzle; The reason for their behavior remains a puzzle. A riddle is an intentionally obscure statement or question, the meaning of or answer to which is to be arrived at only by guessing: the famous riddle of the Sphinx. Enigma, originally meaning riddle, now refers to some baffling problem with connotations of mysteriousness: He will always be an enigma to me.

Example Sentences

The result puzzled the team since no existing theory could account for it.

Read more on Science Daily

Here’s a puzzle: Name two Rust Belt cities with ties to Joe Biden where home prices are going up faster than in most other American cities.

Read more on MarketWatch

Its puzzling variations in brightness have long hinted that two enormous black holes may be orbiting and merging at its center.

Read more on Science Daily

In fact, one puzzle actually utilizes the waiting room, as “Election Day” toys with the idea of traversing the human world and a puppet universe.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But his design for the minimally articulated closing duet with Ms. Mearns and Stanley makes them seem to be missing lower limbs—which is just puzzling.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• amaze 
• befuddle 
• bemuse 
• bewilder 
• complicate 
• confound 
• disconcert 
• distract 
• disturb 
• dumbfound 
• flabbergast 
• flummox 
• frustrate 
• mystify 
• nonplus 
• perplex 
• rattle 
• stump