- to puzzle; bewilder; confuse
- to complicate: to perplex an issue
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
per•plexed
(pər plekst′),USA pronunciation adj.
per•plex•ed•ly
(pər plek′sid lē),USA pronunciation adv.
per•plex′ed•ness, n.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- bewildered; puzzled:a perplexed state of mind.
- complicated;
involved;
entangled.
- Latin perplexus; see per-, complex) + -ed2
- Middle English perplex confused (1350–1400
per•plex /pɚˈplɛks/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to cause to be confused over what is not understood or certain:Her strange, quiet behavior perplexed me.
per•plex
(pər pleks′),USA pronunciation v.t.
per•plex′er, n.
per•plex′ing•ly, adv.
- to cause to be puzzled or bewildered over what is not understood or certain;
confuse mentally:Her strange response perplexed me. - to make complicated or confused, as a matter or question.
- to hamper with complications, confusion, or uncertainty.
- back formation from perplexed 1585–95
per•plex′ing•ly, adv.
- 1. mystify, confound. 2. tangle, snarl. 3. vex, annoy, bother.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
perplex /pəˈplɛks/ vb (transitive)
'perplexed' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
confused
- distract
- mixed-up
- perplexity
- puzzle
- swither
- bewildered
- bother
- confounded
- end
- foggy
- loss
- lost
- mistryst
- nonplus
- perplex
- ravel
- unperplexed
- willyard
- sea
- self-perplexed
- stump