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.

I was perplexed that Rabbi Levine’s excellent piece left out a critical element: The story’s climax isn’t only the execution of Haman and his family of henchmen.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From BBC

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

The growing numbers of younger people being diagnosed with bowel cancer has left doctors worldwide perplexed.

From Barron's

But being up close like this, I saw something that both captivated and perplexed me.

From The Wall Street Journal

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