as in puzzled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
we were mystified by the sudden changes in the tax code
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Recent Examples of mystified
The Cowboys’ offense was mystified in the loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
—
Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
The few people making their way up and down the street suggested that Providence is as mystified as the rest of America about the identity of the tipster who helped crack the case and identified the shooting suspect.
—Jay Marques, NBC news, 20 Dec. 2025
There’s something a bit terrifying about the intense Deadhead-like devotion of the Swifties every night — and the singer is as mystified by it as anyone else.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2025
The dogs were mystified—nothing like this had ever happened to them.
—Ben Taub, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Mario Lopez, whose brother David was killed by a Brightline train in 2019, said he has long been mystified that the train can operate in such a crowded corridor and at such high speeds.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2025
This was an enormous question that mystified the ancient world.
—Big Think, 30 Oct. 2025
The source of excess gamma-ray radiation, known as the Galactic Center GeV Excess (GCE), has mystified scientists for over a decade.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
Alexander Paul Robertson Lewis allegedly dispensed the substance at West Florence High School in Florence, South Carolina, over a nearly monthlong span, leaving school officials mystified as to the origin of the foul odor, the Florence County Sheriff's office said in a statement.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2025
Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
The few people making their way up and down the street suggested that Providence is as mystified as the rest of America about the identity of the tipster who helped crack the case and identified the shooting suspect.
—Jay Marques, NBC news, 20 Dec. 2025
There’s something a bit terrifying about the intense Deadhead-like devotion of the Swifties every night — and the singer is as mystified by it as anyone else.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2025
The dogs were mystified—nothing like this had ever happened to them.
—Ben Taub, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Mario Lopez, whose brother David was killed by a Brightline train in 2019, said he has long been mystified that the train can operate in such a crowded corridor and at such high speeds.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2025
This was an enormous question that mystified the ancient world.
—Big Think, 30 Oct. 2025
The source of excess gamma-ray radiation, known as the Galactic Center GeV Excess (GCE), has mystified scientists for over a decade.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
Alexander Paul Robertson Lewis allegedly dispensed the substance at West Florence High School in Florence, South Carolina, over a nearly monthlong span, leaving school officials mystified as to the origin of the foul odor, the Florence County Sheriff's office said in a statement.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mystified
Verb
-
Store employees were puzzled about any alleged involvement with El Primo.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
6 Feb. 2026
-
For decades, this has puzzled physicists and engineers alike.—
Tejasri Gururaj,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Even Proctor’s defense attorney seemed baffled by the district attorney’s office’s handling of the case.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
This disconnect, despite all appearances of a serious campaign, has left many Democrats baffled.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The moment became viral on social media, with some X users perplexed at the interview.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Gargantuan boulders, twisted spiky trees, and vibrant sunset colors form an arid landscape that has perplexed and inspired creative titans like Jim Morrison and Gram Parsons for years.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Oswalt confesses being bewildered by Bamford at first.—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2026
-
No matter what the reasons, Belichick, his former Patriots players and NFL fans, are bewildered by the snub.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The New England Patriots just couldn't muster much of an attack against a Seattle defense that appeared to have Drake Maye confused through much of the night, falling 29-13.—
Will Richmond,
The Providence Journal,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The California Department of Public Health is urging people to avoid mushroom foraging altogether this year because death cap mushrooms are easily confused with safe, edible varieties.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mystified.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mystified. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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