perplexing
Hard to understand
Perplexing describes something that confuses or puzzles, leaving you uncertain how to understand or respond: a perplexing question, perplexing behavior.
What's perplexing isn't merely difficult—it's baffling in a way that resists easy explanation: The results were perplexing; nothing in our data predicted this outcome.
Not easily understood
- vagueUnclear, ill-defined
- ambiguousHaving multiple interpretations
- equivocalUncertain in meaning
- indeterminateNot exactly known
uncertain · indefinite · hazy · nebulous · doubtful · questionable · puzzling · confusing
Something hard to fathom
- riddlePuzzling question to solve
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
- puzzleChallenge testing ingenuity
- paradoxSeemingly absurd truth
mystery · brain-teaser · quandary · dilemma · whodunit · cipher · head-scratcher · stumper
Puzzling and obscure
- crypticObscure in meaning
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
- opaqueImpassable to light
- abstruseDifficult to comprehend
arcane · esoteric · recondite · unfathomable · incomprehensible · unintelligible · impenetrable · indecipherable
Mental state of confusion
- befuddlementState of utter confusion
- confusionMental disorientation or bewilderment
- disorientationLoss of spatial awareness
- mystificationDeliberate creation of confusion
stupefaction · puzzlement · discombobulation · flummoxed · nonplussed · stumped · dumbfounded · mystified
Elaborately detailed, many parts
- convolutedExcessively complex or twisted
- labyrinthineExtremely complex and winding
- multifacetedHaving many dimensions
- complicatedDifficult to understand
elaborate · tangled · knotty · Byzantine · nuanced · layered · serpentine · tortuous
unclear
Not easily understood
indeterminate · uncertain · indefinite · hazy · nebulous · doubtful · questionable · puzzling · confusing · misleading
enigma
Something hard to fathom
- riddlePuzzling question to solve
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
- puzzleChallenge testing ingenuity
paradox · mystery · brain-teaser · quandary · dilemma · whodunit · cipher · head-scratcher · stumper · teaser
enigmatic
Puzzling and obscure
- crypticObscure in meaning
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
- opaqueImpassable to light
abstruse · arcane · esoteric · recondite · unfathomable · incomprehensible · unintelligible · impenetrable · indecipherable · sphinxlike
bafflement
Mental state of confusion
- befuddlementState of utter confusion
- confusionMental disorientation or bewilderment
- disorientationLoss of spatial awareness
mystification · stupefaction · puzzlement · discombobulation · flummoxed · nonplussed · stumped · dumbfounded · mystified · confounded
intricate
Elaborately detailed, many parts
- convolutedExcessively complex or twisted
- labyrinthineExtremely complex and winding
- multifacetedHaving many dimensions
complicated · elaborate · tangled · knotty · Byzantine · nuanced · layered · serpentine · tortuous · involuted
- confusing actionsmisleading, misdirecting, obfuscating, muddling, garbling
- mysteriousmysterious, cryptic, enigmatic, arcane, obscure
- strangenessodd, weird, strange, bizarre, peculiar
- thought-provokingstimulating, fascinating, intriguing, engaging, compelling
- challengeschallenge, difficult, hard, challenging, tough
- Unfamiliar Thingsstranger, unknown, mystery, enigma, novelty
perplexingclear
Without obstruction or fog
evident · obvious · intelligible · comprehensible · plain
perplexingsimple
Free of complexity
easy · straightforward · uncomplicated · elementary · basic