puzzlement

[ puhz-uh l-muh nt ]

/ ˈpʌz əl mənt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR puzzlement ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the state of being puzzled; perplexity.

Nearby words

puzzle box, puzzle jug, puzzle out, puzzled, puzzleheaded, puzzlement, puzzler, puzzling, puzzlingly, puzzolan, puzzolana

Origin of puzzlement

First recorded in 1815–25; puzzle + -ment

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for puzzlement

Elation turned to puzzlement as six infected nuns who received infusions all died.
Infected Ebola Doctor Kent Brantly Is an Endangered Hero|Michael Daly|August 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"So shall I," replied Florence, her brows drawing together in puzzlement.
The Million Dollar Mystery|Harold MacGrath
He grinned again at the cloud of puzzlement on my face, and rose holding out his hand.
The Mountebank|William J. Locke
He shook his head in puzzlement, and frowned at the telegram.
The Water Goats and Other Troubles|Ellis Parker Butler

His thick salt-and-pepper brows rumpled in a look of puzzlement.
Cum Grano Salis|Gordon Randall Garrett
There was puzzlement in the honest old face of the attorney.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science February 1930|Various

British Dictionary definitions for puzzlement

puzzlement

/ (ˈpʌzəlmənt) /

noun

the state or condition of being puzzled; perplexity

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