perplexing

[per-plek-sing]

adjective

1. puzzling or bewildering; hard to understand, figure out, or solve.

   One of the most perplexing aspects of owning a cat is trying to decipher its various body movements and meows.

   The history of the universe is one of the most perplexing subjects of all time.

Other Word Forms

• perplexingly adverb
• unperplexing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of perplexing¹

perplex ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

How the best netminder on ice seemingly lost his powers overnight is perhaps the most perplexing question of the NHL postseason so far.

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Though retired, Graham is drawn back in by a perplexing new case.

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The agencies, he said, gave him the runaround and he couldn’t get anyone to answer his calls — which he said was perplexing, considering the rapid response when he alerted them to infected cattle.

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Officers are also aware that the plane has been taken multiple times, and returned, making the incidents more perplexing.

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A US president finally moving away from his perplexing faith in Vladimir Putin, while still giving the Russian leader time to come to the negotiating table.

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Related Words

• baffling 
• complicated 
• confusing 
• convoluted 
• disconcerting 
• knotty 
• mysterious 
• mystifying www.thesaurus.com
• puzzling 
• thorny 
• worrying www.thesaurus.com