perplexing

adjective

per·​plex·​ing pər-ˈplek-siŋ How to pronounce perplexing (audio)
: difficult to understand : causing confusion
A perplexing feature of insomnia is that people seem to overestimate their sleep loss.Rita L. Atkinson et al.
Chronic acalculous biliary disorders are among the most perplexing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in medicine.Richard M. Gore
A perplexing problem, often encountered by cat owners, is that of a refusal to use the litterbox after using it for years in the past.Susan L. Mathews
perplexingly adverb
a perplexingly complex problem
This was all that I could observe of her in the dim light and under the perplexingly strange circumstances of our meeting. Wilkie Collins

Examples of perplexing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Every little facet of their lives becomes a perplexing anthropological study, an affirmation to older people that youth is wasted on the young. Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 7 Feb. 2025 Equally perplexing, the president’s tax plan ignores the well-being of these same families and their children. Bruce Fuller, Baltimore Sun, 6 Feb. 2025 The perplexing question of Greenland illustrates the inversion of populism that Trump represents. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025 Although perplexing from an outsider’s view in regard to a star player such as Banchero, the Magic were aware that his skills might not click in right away upon his return. Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for perplexing 

Word History

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of perplexing was in 1585

Dictionary Entries Near perplexing

Cite this Entry

“Perplexing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perplexing. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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