perplexed

American

[per-plekst] / pərˈplɛkst /

adjective

bewildered; puzzled.

a perplexed state of mind.
complicated; involved; entangled.

Other Word Forms

perplexedly adverb
perplexedness noun
self-perplexed adjective
unperplexed adjective

Etymology

Origin of perplexed

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English perplex “confused,” from Latin perplexus ( per-, complex ) + -ed ²

Explanation

Use the adjective perplexed to describe someone who is utterly baffled or confused. If you've ever studied for the wrong test and been surprised and confused by the exam in front of you, you've been perplexed. There's a particular bewildered kind of facial expression that goes along with the word perplexed. It's the kind of emotion that's hard to disguise. The Latin root perplexus means "confused or entangled," and "entangled" is a great way to imagine the tangled thoughts and confusion of someone who's perplexed.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

All the while, the former secretary of state looks on perplexed.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

But being up close like this, I saw something that both captivated and perplexed me.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2026

When she and her family inevitably left town and didn’t stumble upon Charlie Brown and his motley crew, she was perplexed.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025

The December slump has perplexed investors, given that the final month of the year is historically one of the strongest in terms of stock performance, with an average gain of around 1.4%.

From Barron's • Dec. 22, 2025

“Good evening,” Master said, looking slightly perplexed, as if he was not certain who she was.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023