adjective
perplexed
puh-PLEHKST
Perplexed (adjective) means Confused and unable to understand something. Example: “She looked perplexed by the strange instructions on the box.”
adjective
1
Confused and unable to understand something.
"She looked perplexed by the strange instructions on the box."
"The teacher was perplexed when half the class gave the exact same wrong answer."
"The scientists were perplexed by the new discovery."
How to use perplexed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPuzzled, not sure what's going on.
Common pairings
look perplexed
perplexed expression
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more perplexed
- Superlative
- most perplexed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She looked _____ by the strange instructions on the box.
Antonyms
unperplexed
Rhymes for perplexed
See all rhymes for perplexed →Frequently asked questions
What does “perplexed” mean?
The word “perplexed” means confused and unable to understand something. In plain terms, puzzled, not sure what's going on.
How do you pronounce “perplexed”?
“Perplexed” is pronounced puh-PLEHKST (/pɚˈplɛkst/ in IPA).
How do you use “perplexed” in a sentence?
Here is “perplexed” used in a sentence: “She looked perplexed by the strange instructions on the box.”
What part of speech is “perplexed”?
“Perplexed” is an adjective.
