English Dictionary

PERPLEXED

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does perplexed mean? 

PERPLEXED (adjective)
  The adjective PERPLEXED has 1 sense:

1. full of difficulty or confusion or bewildermentplay

  Familiarity information: PERPLEXED used as an adjective is very rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


PERPLEXED (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment

Context example:

perplexed state of the world

Similar:

at a loss; nonplused; nonplussed; puzzled (filled with bewilderment)

at sea; baffled; befuddled; bemused; bewildered; confounded; confused; lost; mazed; mixed-up (perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment)

metagrabolised; metagrabolized; metagrobolised; metagrobolized; mystified (totally perplexed and mixed up)

questioning; quizzical (perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know))

stuck (baffled)

Also:

confused (mentally confused; unable to think with clarity or act intelligently)

Antonym:

unperplexed (experiencing no difficulty or confusion or bewilderment)

Derivation:

perplexity (trouble or confusion resulting from complexity)


 Context examples 


“There must be something else,” said the perplexed gentleman.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

“I could see it come! I could see it come!” he exclaimed, passing his fingers through his hair with the same perplexed expression as before.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She had no child to connect her with life and happiness again, no relations to assist in the arrangement of perplexed affairs, no health to make all the rest supportable.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

He coloured, seemed perplexed, looked doubtingly, and, after some hesitation, said,—Perhaps you mean—my brother—you mean Mrs. Mrs. ROBERT Ferrars.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

In the rays of the lantern I could see his perplexed face peering down.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

His beard was white with his frozen breath when the perplexed and frowning brows relaxed and decision came into his face.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

I happened to wear my gloves, which the master gray observing, seemed perplexed, discovering signs of wonder what I had done to my fore-feet.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Joe whistled a long, perplexed whistle, and racked his brains to little purpose.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Nothing, Mr. Holmes, save that I was so perplexed that I felt I should not be happy until I had seen you and had your advice.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Here we may take it that there is a love matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or grieved.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"A fox smells its own stink first." (English proverb)

"The one who does not make you happy when he arrives makes you happy when he leaves" (Breton proverb)

"Seek education even if it takes you to China." (Arabic proverb)

"It hits like a grip on a pig." (Dutch proverb)



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