as in mystery
something hard to understand or explain
the final fate of the colonists at Roanoke remains a puzzle to this very day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to baffle
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
it is the cause of the disease that puzzles doctors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of puzzle
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2025
Investigators also described a collection of art, puzzles and drawing supplies in the dining room, and medical supplies like bandages and tape in several kitchen drawers.
—Susan Montoya Bryan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
Trading Sims for Wright initially seemed puzzling — but quickly proved prophetic.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for puzzle
Noun
The second stage is building a step puzzle and then getting across some ropes with three planks; the top two teams move on.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2025
Investigators also described a collection of art, puzzles and drawing supplies in the dining room, and medical supplies like bandages and tape in several kitchen drawers.
—Susan Montoya Bryan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
Verb
The discovery, dating back 60,000 to 50,000 years, has puzzled archaeologists, who have come up with competing hypotheses to explain the stone tools.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
Trading Sims for Wright initially seemed puzzling — but quickly proved prophetic.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for puzzle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzle
Noun
-
The observatory, which is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, is designed to scrutinize the solar atmosphere and the sun's magnetic field for tiny features that might reveal answers to some of the fundamental solar mysteries.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2025
-
For a sci-fi/mystery/comedy, that’s no small thing.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
With a fastball that tops out around 87 mph, Barrett finds other ways to baffle hitters.—
Dave Melton,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2025
-
The idea that children are not routinely exposed to stories about gender and sexuality would baffle anyone with even a passing familiarity with the Disney canon.—
Ian Millhiser,
Vox,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Pritzker’s roughly 10-minute interview followed a week when Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs roiled stock markets and left American investors, businesses and the nation’s trading partners perplexed about what the president is attempting to achieve.—
Dan Petrella,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Apr. 2025
-
Curious onlookers can expect to catch a glimpse of the full moon's peak at 8:22 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on April 12, 2025, yet the lack of a rosy hue may leave many people perplexed.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Rob Lowe was recently confused for another celebrity during a Hollywood bus tour.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
18 Apr. 2025
-
For decades, audiences have confused the two for one another — a line that's gotten all the more blurry as the Grammy winner launched her acting career and the Emmy winner began singing in multiple projects, including her turn as Sally Bowles in the 2014 Broadway revival of Cabaret.—
Dave Quinn,
People.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Across the street, her husband Steve, who nursed Molly through her first fight with breast cancer a few years earlier, sits bewildered in the office of their couples therapist.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 Mar. 2025
-
Carlie thinks the whole thing is hilarious, and Chelsea remains bewildered by any King Cake Baby obsession.—
Chelsea Brasted,
Axios,
20 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Puzzle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzle. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share