perplex
verb
transitive verb
Synonyms
- complex
- complexify
- complicate
- embarrass
- entangle
- sophisticate
Example Sentences
George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 July 2022 The jargon around American elections can perplex and alienate voters. Julia Mueller, USA TODAY, 1 July 2022 Ancient people would travel for hundreds of miles to reach this cultural center, which has left behind archeological mysteries that continue to perplex us more than a thousand years later. Cnn Opinion, CNN, 16 Dec. 2021 Ancient people would travel for hundreds of miles to reach this cultural center, which has left behind archeological mysteries that continue to perplex us more than a thousand years later. Cnn Opinion, CNN, 16 Dec. 2021 Ancient people would travel for hundreds of miles to reach this cultural center, which has left behind archeological mysteries that continue to perplex us more than a thousand years later. Cnn Opinion, CNN, 16 Dec. 2021 What will likely perplex the selection committee, though, are six Quadrant 1 victories. Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2022 Ancient people would travel for hundreds of miles to reach this cultural center, which has left behind archeological mysteries that continue to perplex us more than a thousand years later. Cnn Opinion, CNN, 16 Dec. 2021 The first time that Lamar Jackson saw the Dolphins defense that would perplex and punish him, ruining his Thursday night, the Ravens quarterback almost solved it. Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, 15 Nov. 2021 See More Word History
obsolete perplex, adjective, involved, perplexed, from Latin perplexus, from per- thoroughly + plexus involved, from past participle of plectere to braid, twine — more at per-, ply
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
perplex
verb
perplex
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- complicate
- complex
- embarrass
- intensify
- confuse
- complexify
- entangle
- sophisticate
- elaborate
- confound
- expand
- muddle
- snarl
- tangle
- develop
- magnify
- mix (up)
- mess (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- simplify
- streamline
- shorten
- facilitate
- ease
- unravel
- cut
- abbreviate
- straighten (out)
- disentangle
- untangle
- oversimplify
Synonyms & Similar Words
- bewilder
- baffle
- confuse
- puzzle
- befuddle
- mystify
- bemuse
- embarrass
- vex
- confound
- bother
- disorient
- muddle
- flummox
- stun
- fluster
- disturb
- rattle
- pose
- fuddle
- maze
- discombobulate
- befog
- bamboozle
- addle
- upset
- muddy
- fox
- buffalo
- gravel
- unsettle
- get
- beat
- disconcert
- discomfit
- nonplus
- blow one's mind
- distress
- mortify
- stick
- stump
- faze
- agitate
- deceive
- dismay
- abash
- perturb
- mislead
- go to one's head
- beguile
- disquiet
- unhinge
- chagrin
- discomfort
- delude
- fool
- weird out
- discountenance
- discompose
- trick
- misguide
- hoodwink
- cozen
- humbug
- dupe
- hoax
- gull
- snow
- take in
- string along
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- assure
- satisfy
- inform
- reassure
- enlighten
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of perplex are bewilder, confound, distract, dumbfound, nonplus, and puzzle. While all these words mean "to baffle and disturb mentally," perplex adds a suggestion of worry and uncertainty especially about making a necessary decision.
The words bewilder and perplex can be used in similar contexts, but bewilder stresses a confusion of mind that hampers clear and decisive thinking.
The synonyms confound and perplex are sometimes interchangeable, but confound implies temporary mental paralysis caused by astonishment or profound abasement.
The meanings of distract and perplex largely overlap; however, distract implies agitation or uncertainty induced by conflicting preoccupations or interests.
While the synonyms dumbfound and perplex are close in meaning, dumbfound suggests intense but momentary confounding; often the idea of astonishment is so stressed that it becomes a near synonym of astound.
The words nonplus and perplex are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, nonplus implies a bafflement that makes orderly planning or deciding impossible.
Although the words puzzle and perplex have much in common, puzzle implies existence of a problem difficult to solve.