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Synonyms

perplexing

American  
[per-plek-sing] / pərˈplɛk sɪŋ /

adjective

  1. puzzling or bewildering; hard to understand, figure out, or solve.

    One of the most perplexing aspects of owning a cat is trying to decipher its various body movements and meows.

    The history of the universe is one of the most perplexing subjects of all time.

Other Word Forms

  • perplexingly adverb
  • unperplexing adjective

Etymology

Origin of perplexing

perplex ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. )

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.

All which makes his disappearance on 3 April 2017 so perplexing.

From BBC

The ease and modesty present in “Marc by Sofia” sometimes seem perplexing.

From Salon

“The Bride!” is surprising and strange, perplexing and aggravating.

From Salon

Ultimately, “In the Days of My Youth” confronts readers with a perplexing question: Can someone be a good father but a bad man?

From The Wall Street Journal

Some works are paradigmatic, some rather generic; the inclusion of others is perplexing.

From The Wall Street Journal

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.