puzzle, perplex, bewilder
- puzzle, perplex, bewilder
Although these verbs have different origins, they mean about the same thing and can safely be interchanged. Puzzle, the most commonly used of the three terms, means "to put someone at a loss," "to mystify," "to baffle": "What you are trying to do puzzles me." Perplex means "to confuse mentally," "to make complicated," "to confound": "Just what action to take now perplexes the manager." Bewilder, the strongest of these words, means "to confuse utterly," "to daze," "to stagger": "Because you treat me differently every time we meet, I am utterly bewildered." Related words are nonplus, confound, mystify, vex, entangle, and frustrate.
Dictionary of problem words and expressions.
Harry Shaw.
1975.
Look at other dictionaries:
puzzle — I. verb (puzzled; puzzling) Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1582 transitive verb 1. to offer or represent to (as a person) a problem difficult to solve or a situation difficult to resolve ; challenge mentally; also to exert (as oneself) over such … New Collegiate Dictionary
bewilder — See puzzle, perplex, bewilder. See puzzle, perplex, bewilder … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
perplex — See puzzle, perplex, bewilder. See puzzle, perplex, bewilder … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
puzzle — See riddle. See puzzle, perplex, bewilder See riddle, puzzle, enigma … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
puzzle# — puzzle vb Puzzle, perplex, mystify, bewilder, distract, nonplus, confound, dumbfound are comparable when they mean to disturb and baffle mentally or throw into mental confusion. The first three words express various mental reactions to what is… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
perplex — *puzzle, mystify, bewilder, distract, nonplus, confound, dumbfound Analogous words: disturb, perturb, upset, *discompose: baffle, balk, thwart (see FRUSTRATE): astound, amaze, astonish, *surprise … New Dictionary of Synonyms
puzzle — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. riddle, conundrum, poser, enigma; mystification, perplexity, complication; dilemma, bewilderment, confusion. v. t. confound, perplex, bewilder, confuse, mystify. See difficulty, unintelligibility,… … English dictionary for students
perplex — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) v. puzzle, bewilder, confuse, mystify, confound, non plus; distract, disconcert. See difficulty, unintelligibility, doubt. II (Roget s IV) v. Syn. puzzle, confound, bewilder; see confuse . See Synonym… … English dictionary for students
puzzle — 1. verb her decision puzzled me Syn: baffle, perplex, bewilder, confuse, bemuse, mystify, nonplus; informal stump, beat 2. noun the poem has always been a puzzle Syn: enigma, mystery, paradox, conundrum … Synonyms and antonyms dictionary
bewilder — be·wil·der || bɪ wɪldÉ™ v. confuse, puzzle, perplex, confound … English contemporary dictionary
