Synonyms for perplexing


Grammar : Adj
Spell : per-pleks
Phonetic Transcription : pərˈplɛks

Top 10 synonyms for perplexing Other synonyms for the word perplexing

Définition of perplexing

Origin :
  • late 14c. as an adjective, "perplexed, puzzled, bewildered," from Latin perplexus "involved, confused, intricate;" but Latin had no corresponding verb *perplectere. The Latin compound would be per "through" (see per) + plexus "entangled," past participle of plectere "to twine, braid, fold" (see complex (adj.)).
  • The form of the English adjective shifted to perplexed by late 15c., probably to conform to other past participle adjectives. The verb is latest attested of the group, in 1590s, evidently a back-formation from the adjective. Related: Perplexing, which well describes the history of the word.
  • adj difficult to understand
Example sentences :
  • He seemed as if he had got something upon his mind which was perplexing him.
  • Extract from : « Life in London » by Edwin Hodder
  • Of course, he was going, but the perplexing thing was, what to do with that other ticket.
  • Extract from : « Ester Ried Yet Speaking » by Isabella Alden
  • Oh, what a torturing, doubt-raising, perplexing thing this Love was!
  • Extract from : « The Foolish Lovers » by St. John G. Ervine
  • Here is no path, I said, and the wood is dark and perplexing; still we must push on.
  • Extract from : « The Republic » by Plato
  • The latest pronouncement, however, was for the moment the most perplexing.
  • Extract from : « Lotus Buds » by Amy Carmichael
  • I own that the instance of that boy of Dalhem is perplexing.
  • Extract from : « The Phantom World » by Augustin Calmet
  • Still, the mystery of this remarkable book is as perplexing as ever.
  • Extract from : « Cooking and Dining in Imperial Rome » by Apicius
  • It is a perplexing reflection that there is no absolute moral standard.
  • Extract from : « War Letters of a Public-School Boy » by Paul Jones.
  • There was an inconsistency in it all that was perplexing, but not so perplexing as to spoil the pleasure of it.
  • Extract from : « The Coast of Bohemia » by William Dean Howells
  • What perplexing self-contradiction it all seemed to me as I looked around!
  • Extract from : « My Reminiscences » by Rabindranath Tagore

Antonyms for perplexing

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019