- present participle of perplex.
perplexing
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of perplexing
Explanation
The adjective perplexing describes something it is confusing. Before you're fluent in Arabic, you may find the unfamiliar alphabet to be totally perplexing. The Latin root of perplexing is perplexus, which means involved, confused, or intricate. This root is also found in the verb perplex, or confuse. Problems are often described as perplexing, especially when several attempts to solve them are unsuccessful. You may have a perplexing decision to make, like where to go to college or whether to stay friends with a fun person who has disappointed you in some way.
Vocabulary lists containing perplexing
"Shooting an Elephant"
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Sam Shepard (1943-2017) Tribute List
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Robert Loggia (1930-2015) Tribute List
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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.
One perpetually perplexing area of retirement planning for both individuals and professionals is how to spend down the money that we have so diligently saved.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026
Even more perplexing was his decision in March to confront the Pentagon over certain military and security uses of his AI, at the risk of losing everything.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
The uncanny behavior of the models is fascinating, slightly disturbing—and deeply perplexing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
To think they have allowed him to enter the final year of his contract is perplexing - but that is where we are.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Or—and this was the perplexing thought—had she used him?
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
