1
as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
her explanation did little to relieve his puzzlement
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mystery
something hard to understand or explain
the whole situation remains a puzzlement to everyone who was there
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of puzzlement
Sandie Yeaman, of Omaha, Nebraska, expressed puzzlement at the connection.
—
Scott McFetridge, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
The murder mystery exists at the intersection of Elsbeth and Shondaland’s other White House show, Scandal, combining political intrigue with parlor-room puzzlement—and that parlor happens to be located in the most famous house in America.
—Scarlett Harris, Architectural Digest, 3 Apr. 2025
In recent interviews, Selzer expressed dismay and continuing puzzlement.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
Many progressives expressed puzzlement at how the party had failed to conduct a proper autopsy on the last election cycle.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for puzzlement
Scott McFetridge, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
The murder mystery exists at the intersection of Elsbeth and Shondaland’s other White House show, Scandal, combining political intrigue with parlor-room puzzlement—and that parlor happens to be located in the most famous house in America.
—Scarlett Harris, Architectural Digest, 3 Apr. 2025
In recent interviews, Selzer expressed dismay and continuing puzzlement.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
Many progressives expressed puzzlement at how the party had failed to conduct a proper autopsy on the last election cycle.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for puzzlement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzlement
Noun
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Some of those who chose to evacuate didn’t do so promptly, and there was widespread confusion whether evacuation was necessary at all.—
Rong-Gong Lin II,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
-
The end result of this copycat strategy was external confusion, internal demoralization, and financial underperformance.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
Noun
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This was a period during which the red planet seemed to be ready to give up some of its mystery.—
Matthew Shindell,
The Conversation,
6 June 2025
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The mystery lane is divided off from the other lanes with cones, plastic posts and then a low-lying barrier.—
Jim Radcliffe,
Oc Register,
6 June 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
-
His Baseball Savant page is a source of bewilderment and wonder to me.—
Levi Weaver,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
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That excitement turned to bewilderment when the company revealed last month that global soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo would be a playable character, joined days later by Salvatore Ganacci — a Bosnian-Swedish DJ.—
Lindsay Totty,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Puzzlement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puzzlement. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
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