perplex

[ per-pleks ]

/ pərˈplɛks /

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verb (used with object)

to cause to be puzzled or bewildered over what is not understood or certain; confuse mentally: Her strange response perplexed me.

to make complicated or confused, as a matter or question.

to hamper with complications, confusion, or uncertainty.

Nearby words

perpetual-motion machine, perpetuate, perpetuity, perphenazine, perpignan, perplex, perplexed, perplexing, perplexity, perquisite, perrault

Origin of perplex

First recorded in 1585–95; back formation from perplexed

SYNONYMS FOR perplex

1 mystify, confound.

2 tangle, snarl.

3 vex, annoy, bother.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR perplex ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

per·plex·er, nounper·plex·ing·ly, adverbun·per·plex·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for perplex

That in every Art certain complete sciences may be included is intelligible of itself, and should not perplex us.
On War|Carl von Clausewitz
But a trouble weigh'd upon her, And perplex'd her night and morn.
Mabel, Vol. I (of 3)|Emma Warburton
A factor that tends to perplex the mother and hurts the training of the child is her doubt as how "to discipline."
The Nervous Housewife|Abraham Myerson
The fusion and casting of bronze does not perplex them any more than working in tin.
Primitive Man|Louis Figuier

Eternally talking of philosophy and philanthropy, they borrow the terms only to perplex the ignorant and seduce the imagination.
Leonora|Maria Edgeworth

British Dictionary definitions for perplex

perplex

/ (pəˈplɛks) /

verb (tr)

to puzzle; bewilder; confuse

to complicateto perplex an issue

Word Origin for perplex

C15: from obsolete perplex (adj) intricate, from Latin perplexus entangled, from per- (thoroughly) + plectere to entwine

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012