perplexing
adjective
per·plex·ing
pər-ˈplek-siŋ 
: difficult to understand : causing confusion
A perplexing feature of insomnia is that people seem to overestimate their sleep loss.—
Rita L. Atkinson et al.
Rita L. Atkinson et al.Chronic acalculous biliary disorders are among the most perplexing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in medicine.—Richard M. Gore
Richard M. GoreA perplexing problem, often encountered by cat owners, is that of a refusal to use the litterbox after using it for years in the past.—Susan L. Mathews
Susan L. Mathews
perplexingly
adverb
a perplexingly complex problem
This was all that I could observe of her in the dim light and under the perplexingly strange circumstances of our meeting.
—Wilkie Collins
Wilkie Collins
Examples of perplexing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At least there’s still perplexing songs to listen to.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 23 July 2025
The accusations of bad faith are not only perplexing but inaccurate.
—The Daily News, New York Daily News, 16 July 2025
One of the most perplexing hints of hydration are a handful of slope streaks: narrow, long and sometimes bright but usually dark features that are commonly located near the tops of crater walls and scarps.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 10 July 2025
Lloyd’s casting of Olivas as Perón — in reality 23 years Eva’s senior and invariably played by an older actor — seems perplexing.
—Demetrios Matheou, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexing
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Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 23 July 2025
The accusations of bad faith are not only perplexing but inaccurate.
—The Daily News, New York Daily News, 16 July 2025
One of the most perplexing hints of hydration are a handful of slope streaks: narrow, long and sometimes bright but usually dark features that are commonly located near the tops of crater walls and scarps.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 10 July 2025
Lloyd’s casting of Olivas as Perón — in reality 23 years Eva’s senior and invariably played by an older actor — seems perplexing.
—Demetrios Matheou, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplexing
Cite this Entry
“Perplexing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perplexing. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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