Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for puzzle on Thesaurus.com a toy, problem, or other contrivance designed to amuse by presenting difficulties to be solved by ingenuity or patient effort. something puzzling ; a puzzling question, matter, or person. a puzzled or perplexed condition; bewilderment. a crossword puzzle : Did you do the puzzle in the newspaper today? a jigsaw puzzle . Show More
verb (used with object), puz·zled, puz·zling. to put (someone) at a loss; mystify; confuse; baffle: Her attitude puzzles me. to frustrate or confound, as the understanding; perplex: The problem puzzled him for weeks. to exercise (oneself, one's brain, etc.) over some problem or matter. Archaic to make intricate or complicated. Show More
verb (used without object), puz·zled, puz·zling. to be perplexed or confused. to ponder or study over some perplexing problem or matter. Show More
puzzle out , to solve by careful study or effort: I was unable to puzzle out the message. Show More
Origin of puzzle First recorded in 1585–95; origin uncertain
Related forms puz·zled·ly , adverb puz·zled·ness , noun un·puz·zle , verb (used with object), un·puz·zled, un·puz·zling. Synonyms for puzzle See more synonyms for 2 . Puzzle, riddle, enigma refer to something baffling or confusing that is to be solved. A puzzle is a question or problem, intricate enough to be perplexing to the mind; it is sometimes a contrivance made purposely perplexing to test one's ingenuity: a crossword puzzle; The reason for their behavior remains a puzzle. A riddle is an intentionally obscure statement or question, the meaning of or answer to which is to be arrived at only by guessing: the famous riddle of the Sphinx. Enigma, originally meaning riddle, now refers to some baffling problem with connotations of mysteriousness: He will always be an enigma to me. 6 . confound.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for puzzle mystify ,
disturb ,
complicate ,
stump ,
perplex ,
bewilder ,
flummox ,
rattle ,
befuddle ,
nonplus ,
bemuse ,
disconcert ,
distract ,
frustrate ,
confound ,
amaze ,
flabbergast ,
dumbfound ,
stumble ,
floor Examples from the Web for puzzle Contemporary Examples of puzzle For passengers, beyond the statistics lies a puzzle that has persisted for years.
Without access to the site, reporters, social media, and governments put together pieces of the puzzle .
But just picture a puzzle on the ground; say a puzzle of the Trade Center.
Police say that the final pieces of the puzzle were put together in the second week of March.
Schindler said this has been a puzzle for the U.S. intelligence community since the days of the cold war.
Historical Examples of puzzle He had discovered years before that he was sometimes able thus to puzzle her momentarily.
There was no reasoning which could help him in the midst of that puzzle .
We see that the puzzle about identity proves at last to be of Grecian origin.
There was another consideration, however, which at this time was rather a puzzle .
He made for his own woods, and sat down to try to puzzle it out.
British Dictionary definitions for puzzle to perplex or be perplexed (intr foll by over ) to attempt the solution (of); ponder (about) he puzzled over her absence (tr usually foll by out ) to solve by mental effort he puzzled out the meaning of the inscription Show More
a person or thing that puzzles a problem that cannot be easily or readily solved the state or condition of being puzzled a toy, game, or question presenting a problem that requires skill or ingenuity for its solution See jigsaw puzzle , Chinese puzzle Show More
Derived Forms puzzling , adjective Word Origin for puzzle C16: of unknown origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for puzzle v. 1590s, pusle "bewilder, confound," possibly frequentative of pose (v.) in obsolete sense of "perplex" (cf. nuzzle from nose ). Related: Puzzled ; puzzling .
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n. c.1600, "state of being puzzled," from puzzle (v.); meaning "perplexing question" is from 1650s; that of "a toy contrived to test one's ingenuity" is from 1814.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
