perplexed
Say it: puh-PLEKST /pɚˈplɛkst/ · adjective
What “perplexed” means
Puzzled because something is hard to understand.
More precisely: Puzzled and unsure because something is hard to understand.
Example: “The doctor was perplexed by symptoms that didn't fit any diagnosis.”
When to use it
When a particular puzzle or problem leaves you unsure how to explain it. Slightly more formal than puzzled.
Similar words
puzzled, baffled, mystified
Where it comes from
From Latin perplexus, "entangled."
Quick check
A cupboard door will not close, although nothing seems to block it. You study it, unable to explain why. You are…
frustrated or perplexed?
Show the answer
perplexed
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