perplex

verb per·plex \ pər-ˈpleks \

Updated on: 7 Dec 2017

Definition of perplex

transitive verb

1 : to make unable to grasp something clearly or to think logically and decisively about something

her attitude perplexes me

a perplexing problem

2 : to make intricate or involved : complicate

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Examples of perplex in a Sentence

Questions about the meaning of life have always perplexed humankind.
let's not perplex the issue further with irrelevant concerns

Recent Examples of perplex from the Web

The fairy-tale tinge of In the Great Green Room can occasionally be perplexing.

— laura miller, Slate Magazine, "The wild, jubilant life of Margaret Wise Brown, author of Goodnight Moon.," 12 Jan. 2017
But following a string of provocative nuclear and missile tests this year, North Korea has gone more than a month without a test—a silence that has perplexed U.S. and South Korean officials.

— jonathan cheng, WSJ, "Defense Secretary Mattis Denounces North Korea on Visit to DMZ," 27 Oct. 2017
The Fed has been perplexed by the slowdown in inflation this year, first believing it was caused by temporary factors.

— Washington Post, "Energy surge sends US consumer prices up 0.5 pct.," 13 Oct. 2017
Cleveland's elimination was perplexing on many levels.

— ted crow, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and ALDS postmortem: Crowquill," 13 Oct. 2017
Kurdish officials have been perplexed by the number of fighters who have surrendered.

— rod nordland, New York Times, "ISIS Fighters, Having Pledged to Fight or Die, Surrender en Masse," 8 Oct. 2017
Ferdinand’s decision to become a professional age at 38-years-old has perplexed many.

— SI.com, "Football Pundit Gary Lineker Can’t Resist Taking a Swipe at Rio Ferdinand’s New Career Choice," 27 Sep. 2017
Her reasoning is perplexing: Soon the media will be back to talking about Colin Kaepernick, not J.J. Watt.

— graham vyse, New Republic, "Conservatives: Hurricane Heroism Disproves Racism," 8 Sep. 2017
This Sunday, America engages in some of its most beloved and time-honored annual traditions: drinking beer in the afternoon, making a full meal out of Velveeta and Frito-Lay products, and being perplexed by the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

— dave holmes, Esquire, "The Weirdest and Most Unforgettable Moments in Super Bowl Halftime Show History," 3 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'perplex.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of perplex

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

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First Known Use: 15th century

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perplex Synonyms

Synonyms

complex, complexify, embarrass, entangle, complicate, sophisticate

Antonyms

simplify, streamline

Related Words

develop, elaborate, expand; intensify, magnify; confound, confuse, mess (up), mix (up), muddle; snarl, tangle

Near Antonyms

abbreviate, cut, shorten; ease, facilitate; disentangle, straighten (out), unravel, untangle; oversimplify

Synonym Discussion of perplex

puzzle, perplex, bewilder, distract, nonplus, confound, dumbfound mean to baffle and disturb mentally. puzzle implies existence of a problem difficult to solve.