puzzle

[ puhz-uhl ]

noun

1. a toy, problem, or other contrivance designed to amuse by presenting difficulties to be solved by ingenuity or patient effort.
2. something puzzling; a puzzling question, matter, or person.
3. a puzzled or perplexed condition; bewilderment.
4. a crossword puzzle:

   Did you do the puzzle in the newspaper today?

5. a jigsaw puzzle.

verb (used with object)

, puz·zled, puz·zling.

1. to put (someone) at a loss; mystify; confuse; baffle:

   Her attitude puzzles me.

   Synonyms: confound

2. to frustrate or confound, as the understanding; perplex:

   The problem puzzled him for weeks.

3. to exercise (oneself, one's brain, etc.) over some problem or matter.
4. Archaic. to make intricate or complicated.

verb (used without object)

, puz·zled, puz·zling.

1. to be perplexed or confused.
2. to ponder or study over some perplexing problem or matter.

verb phrase

1. to solve by careful study or effort:

   I was unable to puzzle out the message.

puzzle

/ ˈpʌzəl /

verb

1. to perplex or be perplexed
2. intrfoll byover to attempt the solution (of); ponder (about)

   he puzzled over her absence

3. trusually foll byout to solve by mental effort

   he puzzled out the meaning of the inscription

noun

1. a person or thing that puzzles
2. a problem that cannot be easily or readily solved
3. the state or condition of being puzzled
4. a toy, game, or question presenting a problem that requires skill or ingenuity for its solution See jigsaw puzzle Chinese puzzle

Derived Forms

• ˈpuzzling, adjective

Other Words From

• puzzled·ly adverb
• puzzled·ness noun
• un·puzzle verb (used with object) unpuzzled unpuzzling

Word History and Origins

Origin of puzzle¹

First recorded in 1585–95; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of puzzle¹

C16: of unknown origin

Synonym Study

Puzzle, riddle, enigma refer to something baffling or confusing that is to be solved. A puzzle is a question or problem, intricate enough to be perplexing to the mind; it is sometimes a contrivance made purposely perplexing to test one's ingenuity: a crossword puzzle; The reason for their behavior remains a puzzle. A riddle is an intentionally obscure statement or question, the meaning of or answer to which is to be arrived at only by guessing: the famous riddle of the Sphinx. Enigma, originally meaning riddle, now refers to some baffling problem with connotations of mysteriousness: He will always be an enigma to me.

Example Sentences

The study is an important piece of the puzzle for finding new treatments for dementia, according to the researchers.

From Science Daily

Among the positive outcomes of the research, gamers reported viewing work as solvable puzzles, and their experience resulted in improved patience in encountering problems and encouraged them to persevere in solving them.

From Science Daily

"Religion is one of the most fascinating and puzzling aspects of ancient civilizations," Tanasi said.

From Science Daily

Using an automated puzzle box system they developed, the team designed an experiment to test this immigration hypothesis.

From Science Daily

The animal belongs to a herd of hefty herbivores who spend their days lumbering through an open landscape of conifers and gingkos, horsetails and monkey puzzle trees.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• conundrum
• enigma
• mindboggler
• problem