perplex
verb (used with object)
to cause to be puzzled or bewildered over what is not understood or certain; confuse mentally.
had been perplexing
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past perfect progressiveof perplex.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
David Gauke, a former Conservative lawmaker who served in the cabinet of then Prime Minister Theresa May, said Mr. Robinson was a marginalized figure, and that the Trump administration’s support of him had been perplexing.
From New York Times ● Apr. 23, 2021
His face, to begin with, had worried her; the faint hint of having seen him somewhere before had been perplexing.
From To Love by Margaret Peterson
Many things which had been perplexing, disturbing, confusing, now fall into line behind that one comprehensive loyalty.
From Mornings in the College Chapel Short Addresses to Young Men on Personal Religion by Francis Greenwood Peabody
All at once the traveller remembered what for the last two days of his journey had been perplexing him—the houses abandoned—the canoes suspended from the trees.
From The Tiger Hunter by Mayne Reid
"I should say that I did," I returned, glad to ease my mind of what had been perplexing me ever since.
From The Ear in the Wall by Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin) Reeve
