perplexed

[per-plekst]

adjective

1. bewildered; puzzled.

   a perplexed state of mind.

2. complicated; involved; entangled.

Other Word Forms

• perplexedly adverb
• perplexedness noun
• self-perplexed adjective
• unperplexed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of perplexed¹

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

Example Sentences

Hence why Reneé Rapp was perplexed when, after going less than two years without releasing new solo music, people started saying she was on hiatus.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Schottenstein, an Orthodox Jew, was perplexed at the criticism that the campaign smacked of eugenics, the Nazi-embraced theory that selective reproduction can advance the human race.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

People who knew the family were perplexed at what went wrong.

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Heitmann said she was “perplexed” by the delays and begged the agency for guidance.

Read more on Salon

Despite his ability to pick out positive individual performances - which left pundits and punters perplexed - there was a hint that he knew things were slipping away.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• bewildered 
• puzzled www.thesaurus.com
• uncertain