puzzling

[puhz-ling]

adjective

1. confusing or baffling.

   a puzzling answer.

noun

1. the skill or pastime of constructing or working crossword or other puzzles.

Other Word Forms

• puzzlingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of puzzling¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; puzzle + -ing ²

Example Sentences

It’s a puzzling and irritating gesture that in context sounds like a mistake.

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"We can therefore explain why some viscous magmas flow out gently instead of exploding, despite their high gas content -- a riddle that's been puzzling us for a long time," says Bachmann.

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“Miss Mortimer always encouraged the girls to go for walks when we were puzzling over a difficult assignment,” Penelope thought.

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“It is puzzling, yes,” Penelope murmured, keeping close watch on the boys, whose eyes were again fixed on the bouncing bird.

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Wittgenstein demanded that whenever we find ourselves puzzling over the meaning of such terms, we should ask, “is the word ever actually used in this way in the language in which it is at home?”

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Related Words

• ambiguous 
• baffling 
• bewildering 
• difficult 
• incomprehensible 
• inexplicable 
• mystifying www.thesaurus.com
• obscure 
• perplexing 
• surprising 
• unclear 
• unfathomable