perplex
verb
per·plex
pər-ˈpleks 
perplexed; perplexing; perplexes
1
: to make unable to grasp something clearly or to think logically and decisively about something
her attitude perplexes me
a perplexing problem
2
: to make intricate or involved : complicate
Examples of perplex in a Sentence
Questions about the meaning of life have always perplexed humankind.
let's not perplex the issue further with irrelevant concerns
Recent Examples on the Web
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, a Queens Democrat who has recently stepped up her criticism of the mayor, was perplexed by his refusal to slam Trump’s recent actions.
—
Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2025
Several drones were reportedly spotted in the skies above a Connecticut suburb Thursday night, adding to recent sightings that have perplexed residents and raised questions about possible national security and public safety concerns.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 13 Dec. 2024
Even though the semolina flour perplexed their competitors, Johnson and Harrison committed to the ingredient.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024
Sociologists have been perplexed at the scale and stubbornness of the decline in fertility, which does not appear to be materially impacted by various governments' attempts to intervene with supposedly birth-inducing policies like tax credits.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplex
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Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2025
Several drones were reportedly spotted in the skies above a Connecticut suburb Thursday night, adding to recent sightings that have perplexed residents and raised questions about possible national security and public safety concerns.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 13 Dec. 2024
Even though the semolina flour perplexed their competitors, Johnson and Harrison committed to the ingredient.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024
Sociologists have been perplexed at the scale and stubbornness of the decline in fertility, which does not appear to be materially impacted by various governments' attempts to intervene with supposedly birth-inducing policies like tax credits.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perplex
Cite this Entry
“Perplex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perplex. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
perplex
verb
per·plex
pər-ˈpleks
1
: to block the understanding of
especially
: confuse sense 1a, bewilder
2
: to make difficult to understand : complicate
perplexed
adjective
-ˈplekst
perplexedly
adverb
-ˈplek-səd-lē
-ˈpleks-tlē
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