as in baffling
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 inexplicable
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in perplexing
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of puzzling
Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 29 May 2025
But the most puzzling case came from the California Academy of Sciences (CAS).
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Evan Bush, NBC News, 22 Dec. 2024
The recent sightings of puzzling unidentified aircraft in New Jersey and other states have triggered yet another round of unanswered questions — and fueled conspiracy theories.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 21 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for puzzling
Verb
In the infield, perhaps the most puzzling hole has been third base.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 29 May 2025
But the most puzzling case came from the California Academy of Sciences (CAS).
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
But in several puzzling cases, no source of infection has been identified.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 22 Dec. 2024
The recent sightings of puzzling unidentified aircraft in New Jersey and other states have triggered yet another round of unanswered questions — and fueled conspiracy theories.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 21 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for puzzling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzling
Adjective
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His sudden, inexplicable death was a 9-year-old’s introduction to the concept of impermanence.—
James Rainey
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
8 July 2025
-
The day after Hank’s admission, Kay and her husband, Ross, explained to George about the baby’s difficulty with breastfeeding, his inexplicable pain and his inability to tolerate formula.—
Jessica Lussenhop,
ProPublica,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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After a perplexing dream, Geron embarks on a quest to connect with his musically inclined son, Anthony, in hopes of creating music ice cream lovers–and the world—will love.—
DeVonne Goode,
Parents,
10 July 2025
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Riverside’s dissing of juries is even more perplexing given that California conviction rates in criminal cases top 60%.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
6 July 2025
Adjective
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Scientists will use this data to study dark matter and dark energy, which make up most of the universe but remain mysterious.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
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Modern courtship is already a nightmare, but director Christopher Landon (of Happy Death Day) ups the stakes when a woman (Meghann Fahy) receives a series of mysterious and threatening AirDrops during her date.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
Still, for many of the players who were dominant during tennis’ defining era, today’s shrunken audiences are somewhat baffling, given the athleticism on display and the dizzying velocity of the aggro-baseliner game.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
27 June 2025
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Rejecting 2010’s Inception when Nolan was coming off his blockbuster masterpiece The Dark Knight, however, seems like a more baffling move.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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Alex Hartman runs the meme page Nolita Dirtbag on Instagram, and tells Rolling Stone the nervous emotions around Mamdani’s win could be in part because of how utterly incomprehensible or cruel many of the Trump administration decisions seem to be.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
26 June 2025
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In a brittle, anxious, nonlinear, incomprehensible (BANI) world where change is the only constant, the leadership traits that once earned respect—tenacity, decisiveness and stoicism—are no longer enough.—
Arthi Rabikrisson,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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What’s unclear is whether Staley even really wanted the Knicks job.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
5 July 2025
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And many of the particulars of the deal are still unclear, with the White House yet to release a term sheet or publish any proclamation codifying the agreement.—
Akayla Gardner,
Fortune,
4 July 2025
Adjective
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This bizarre tale about being picked up by bounty hunters, taken to an unmarked warehouse without access to food, water or an attorney were clearly fabricated.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
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Alicia Hannah-Kim is breaking her silence after a bizarre incident with Cobra Kai costar Martin Kove earlier this month resulted in him being removed from a fan event for biting her.—
Mekishana Pierre,
EW.com,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Stories come to life only through concrete, sensory details, but my father only spoke in vague and abstract terms.—
Margot Singer
July 9,
Literary Hub,
9 July 2025
-
Though vague, Galvin said case law suggests reasonable means that the rules are consistent with the culture and character of the type of community.—
Nora O’Neill
July 8,
Charlotte Observer,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Puzzling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzling. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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