perplexing
adjective
per·plex·ing
pər-ˈplek-siŋ 
: difficult to understand : causing confusion
A perplexing feature of insomnia is that people seem to overestimate their sleep loss.—
Rita L. Atkinson et al.
Rita L. Atkinson et al.Chronic acalculous biliary disorders are among the most perplexing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in medicine.—Richard M. Gore
Richard M. GoreA 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
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
Wilkie Collins
Examples of perplexing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Even more perplexing: If shutting off service to new customers without an account is their strict policy, why wait until Friday to execute it?
—Ryan Minton, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Part of the reason structures like the Hercules–Corona Borealis Great Wall are so perplexing to scientists has to do with the cosmological principle, which most models of the cosmos are founded upon.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 Apr. 2025
There is sympathy for the club, having lost their head coach and their best player in the summer post-promotion, and bewilderment at two perplexing subsequent managerial hires.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Perhaps most perplexing about Smash, though, is its weirdly cynical, ungenerous take on the Bombshell herself.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexing
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.
Ryan Minton, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Part of the reason structures like the Hercules–Corona Borealis Great Wall are so perplexing to scientists has to do with the cosmological principle, which most models of the cosmos are founded upon.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 Apr. 2025
There is sympathy for the club, having lost their head coach and their best player in the summer post-promotion, and bewilderment at two perplexing subsequent managerial hires.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Perhaps most perplexing about Smash, though, is its weirdly cynical, ungenerous take on the Bombshell herself.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexing
Cite this Entry
“Perplexing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perplexing. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share