adjective
perplexing
p-PLEHK-sihng
Perplexing (adjective) means Confusing; hard to make sense of. Example: “It's a perplexing mystery why the door was left unlocked.”
adjective
1
Confusing; hard to make sense of.
"It's a perplexing mystery why the door was left unlocked."
"The results of the experiment were perplexing to the whole research team."
How to use perplexing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething so confusing it leaves you puzzled.
Common mistake
"Perplexing" describes the confusing thing itself; "perplexed" describes the confused person.
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more perplexing
- Superlative
- most perplexing
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It's a _____ mystery why the door was left unlocked.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for perplexing
See all rhymes for perplexing →Frequently asked questions
What does “perplexing” mean?
The word “perplexing” means confusing; hard to make sense of. In plain terms, something so confusing it leaves you puzzled.
How do you pronounce “perplexing”?
“Perplexing” is pronounced p-PLEHK-sihng (/pɚˈplɛksɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “perplexing” in a sentence?
Here is “perplexing” used in a sentence: “It's a perplexing mystery why the door was left unlocked.”
What part of speech is “perplexing”?
“Perplexing” is an adjective.
