Standard Lemma guide

perplexing

adj · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: pərplĕks'ĭng
  • US: /pɚˈplɛksɪŋ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: P ER0 P L EH1 K S IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

That causes perplexity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • utterly perplexing
  • perplexing question
  • perplexing problem
  • The detective faced a perplexing mystery.
  • She found the instructions perplexing.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: baffling, confusing, puzzling, bewildering

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

present participle and gerund of perplex

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

lacking clarity of meaning; causing confusion or perplexity

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • sent confusing signals to Iraq
  • perplexing to someone who knew nothing about it
  • a puzzling statement

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: confusing, puzzling

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Azerbaijani: çaşdıran — that causes perplexity
  • Azerbaijani: karıxdıran — that causes perplexity
  • Azerbaijani: dolaşdıran — that causes perplexity
  • Azerbaijani: çaş-baş edən — that causes perplexity
  • Bulgarian: объркващ (obǎrkvašt) — that causes perplexity
  • Bulgarian: смущаващ (smuštavašt) — that causes perplexity
  • Latin: perplexus — that causes perplexity
  • Spanish: perplejizante — that causes perplexity