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.

Everything went perfectly that day - except for his half-time interview, which left French broadcasters perplexed.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 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

When she and her family inevitably left town and didn’t stumble upon Charlie Brown and his motley crew, she was perplexed.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025

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

From MarketWatch • Dec. 15, 2025

I tell them about Panera and the panini and the last name and the eyebrows, but when I finish, Jessie looks perplexed.

From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

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