as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
seeing her perplexity, the teacher stepped in with a helpful hint
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of perplexity
Gratitude isn’t obviously a concept capable of generating such perplexities.
—
Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 26 Nov. 2024
The performances, too, are more likenesses than full characterizations, which, admittedly, is wholly in keeping with the perplexities being dramatized.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024
And that perplexity surrounding coverage may get more complicated.
—Kff Health News, The Mercury News, 17 July 2024
Excitement and perplexity have long since stiffened into certainty.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 13 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for perplexity
Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 26 Nov. 2024
The performances, too, are more likenesses than full characterizations, which, admittedly, is wholly in keeping with the perplexities being dramatized.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024
And that perplexity surrounding coverage may get more complicated.
—Kff Health News, The Mercury News, 17 July 2024
Excitement and perplexity have long since stiffened into certainty.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 13 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for perplexity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perplexity
Noun
-
Plus, the bars are shaped like an ‘S’ and a ‘C’, so there’s no confusion as to which is which.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
27 May 2025
-
According to him, people who engage in financial education come from a place of need, such as growing a family, facing credit denial, having confusion about financial systems, or starting over after immigration or other major life events.—
True Tamplin,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
31 May 2025
-
If driving through fog becomes inevitable, remember these safety guidelines: Moderate your speed: Slow down and allocate extra travel time to reach your destination safely.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
31 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perplexity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perplexity. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share