Synonyms

perplexed

American

[per-plekst] / pərˈplɛkst /

adjective

bewildered; puzzled.

a perplexed state of mind.
complicated; involved; entangled.

Other Word Forms

perplexedly adverb
perplexedness noun
self-perplexed adjective
unperplexed adjective

Etymology

Origin of perplexed

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English perplex “confused,” from Latin perplexus ( per-, complex ) + -ed ²

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.

All the while, the former secretary of state looks on perplexed.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

Another former employee, who gave her name only as Wong, said she felt unhappy and perplexed on the day the Apple Daily closed.

From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026

He is perplexed by a potential state intervention but he empathizes with young people looking to keep their hair longer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 5, 2026

There are anomalies in the labor market, which are leaving people like your son feeling perplexed.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 15, 2025

I follow the host, perplexed and hyperaware that Hideo is behind me, until we reach an outside patio framed by ornate pillars and lit by trails of fairy lights.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023