as in baffled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
it is the cause of the disease that puzzles doctors
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in bewildered
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2
as in quizzical
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of puzzled
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
London School Of Economics, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The move has puzzled many since ending the program would bar every company, including oil firms, from accessing federal subsidies for capturing carbon or producing hydrogen fuel.
—Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2025
This switcheroo has puzzled many scientists.
—Deborah Fuller, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Finally, the object had an unusual shape that puzzled astronomers.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025
This switcheroo has puzzled many scientists.
—Deborah Fuller, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2025
This mystery puzzled scientists because ice was not supposed to behave like that.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
But at seven weeks, doctors were already puzzled.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
Younger music fans might be puzzled by high demand for tickets for Oasis; the British band had its biggest hits in the 1990s.
—Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
Eels have a unique ability to move even after a spinal cord injury, a feat that has long puzzled scientists.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
From Scepticism to Confidence In my discussions, executives often admit being puzzled about how to approach AI.
—London School Of Economics, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The move has puzzled many since ending the program would bar every company, including oil firms, from accessing federal subsidies for capturing carbon or producing hydrogen fuel.
—Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2025
This switcheroo has puzzled many scientists.
—Deborah Fuller, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Finally, the object had an unusual shape that puzzled astronomers.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025
This switcheroo has puzzled many scientists.
—Deborah Fuller, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2025
This mystery puzzled scientists because ice was not supposed to behave like that.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
But at seven weeks, doctors were already puzzled.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
Younger music fans might be puzzled by high demand for tickets for Oasis; the British band had its biggest hits in the 1990s.
—Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzled
Verb
-
Advertisement Advertisement But days after the shooting, authorities have yet to discover a coherent motive for the killing of Kirk—the founder of Turning Point USA and a popular figure on the American right—and experts on extremism are similarly baffled by the possible motivations.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The result is a set of policies that has baffled some China experts, or at least raised questions about the president’s stance on America’s friendly rival.—
Christian Datoc,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Everybody seems bewildered by this news, his own wife most of all.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Layered in cream, bruised, bewildered, bald.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Louie is summoned to the apartment of Joe Black, a higher-up gangster played by John Malkovich with a manner so quizzical yet threatening that his voice just about quivers with unexpressed rage.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Cue a quizzical look from Sting.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
For nearly 20 years, astronomers have been perplexed by the strange disk of dust and debris circling Fomalhaut, a bright star just 25 light-years from Earth.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Many historians have been perplexed by how such a seemingly simple man as Shakespeare could have written works of such grandeur and depth.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Ford went on to explain to the bemused host that Leno owns a host of nifty machines — including several 3D printers.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Audiences bemused, delighted, hoodwinked theatrically, hoodwinked for real.—
Anne Carson,
New Yorker,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Other than in the Second Circuit, the federal courts of appeals generally have interpreted the Confrontation Clause to require face-to-face cross examination, and counsel should be wary of giving up that important right.—
Robert Anello,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
For decades, educators have been wary of the decline in critical thinking and its impact on undermining the very purpose of education.—
Sixteen Ramos,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At one point, O’Steen was confused by a question, and the resulting back-and-forth was reminiscent of an Abbott and Costello repartee.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Sep. 2025
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It should not be confused with Article 5, the cornerstone of the alliance, which states an armed attack on one NATO ally will be considered an act of violence against all members and prompt assistance to the member concerned.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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People who have followed Cox’s political career are not surprised that his comments moved beyond the partisan rhetoric racing across social media and elsewhere in the wake of Kirk's death.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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If Brown has another subpar game on Sunday, don't be surprised if the trade rumors continue.—
Mark Kern,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Puzzled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzled. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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