as in baffled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
it is the cause of the disease that puzzles doctors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in bewildered
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in quizzical
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzled
Adjective
-
A couple was left bewildered after discovering an unfamiliar cat helping itself to their own pet's food in a now-viral TikTok video that has left viewers on the platform in hysterics.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025 -
Officials in other places that had voted overwhelmingly for President Trump but were far from the front lines of the immigration debate were simply bewildered.—
Campbell Robertson,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
Other jurors appeared curious and quizzical, some looking at Cassie or jotting notes.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2025
-
Team owner Shad Khan looked up with a quizzical expression.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
When Anisimova lost the Queen’s final last month to 37-year-old Tatyana Maria, she was totally bemused by the German’s cat and mouse tactics.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
When things go wrong — such as the morning when a technical glitch with the PA system radio frequency led to a funeral service from a nearby church being broadcast to a bemused cricket crowd — what elsewhere might be regarded as irritations become charming idiosyncrasies.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
Be wary of anyone who claims to be an insurance specialist that is not from your insurance company or was not sent by your insurance company.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
13 July 2025
-
Also be wary of landlords who are out of the country.—
Steve Weisman,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
Verb
-
Many people get confused by these forms which contain code and jargon that rarely offer a clear explanation of anything.—
Steve Weisman,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
-
Not to be confused with DEI training, skill building is a way to help people improve their communication skills, negotiation style and overall understanding of relevant topics, all while leveling up professionally.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes,
21 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Some people are surprised that King Charles, who is known for his environmental activism, would oversee the discontinuation of the train in favor of less sustainable options like helicopters.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
11 July 2025
-
Świątek may be surprised to be here, but Anisimova must be in total shock.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Teams tend to be especially cautious with injuries this time of year.—
Garrett Chorpenning,
New York Times,
9 July 2025
-
They are known to be cautious and spend most of their time on high rocky slopes mostly inaccessible to humans, making sightings rare.—
Lauren Liebhaber
July 8,
Miami Herald,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
Some artists report losing significant opportunities and having to switch careers because of the genre’s downturn; others are paranoid, unable to discern the real from the hoax.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
2 July 2025
-
After his season 4 stint in London, Goldberg (living alongside his wife and son) always has one eye over his shoulder, paranoid that the (literal) skeletons in his closet might soon spill out.—
David Wysong,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Puzzled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzled. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share