Puzzled
ˈpʌzəld
Definitions
Confused; bewildered; unable to understand something.
ˈpʌzəld
Confused and unable to understand something.
She was puzzled by the strange symbols on the map.
💡 Simply: When you feel like you're looking at a riddle and can't figure it out, you're puzzled! Like when your dog does something weird and you just don't understand why.
👶 For kids: Feeling like you don't know something or can't figure it out.
More Examples
The detective was puzzled by the lack of clues at the crime scene.
I was puzzled by the sudden change in his behavior.
How It's Used
"He looked puzzled by the instructions."
"The students seemed puzzled by the complex equation."
From Middle English *poselen*, likely from a verb *poselen* meaning 'to bewilder, perplex', possibly of uncertain origin.
Historically used to describe a state of mental confusion, as indicated in texts from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Memory tip
Picture a jigsaw puzzle; when you can't find the right pieces, you're puzzled.
Word Origin
"To confuse or bewilder."