puzzle
Pieces needing assembly
A puzzle is something designed to be figured out—a problem or game that challenges you to find a solution through reasoning, fitting pieces together, or discovering hidden patterns: jigsaw puzzle, crossword puzzle, puzzle box.
More broadly, a puzzle is anything confusing or mysterious: Her behavior was a puzzle to me.
To puzzle over something is to think hard about it.
If something puzzles you, it confuses or perplexes you.
To puzzle out an answer is to arrive at it through effort.
Puzzling question to solve
- enigmaSomething hard to fathom
- crosswordClue-based letter grid
- sudokuLogic grid puzzle
- anagramReshuffled letter word
cryptogram · acrostic · tangram · rebus · cipher · wordplay · word search · brain teaser
Clue-based letter grid
- sudokuLogic grid puzzle
- tetrisFalling-block puzzle game
- scrabbleClaw or grope frantically
- chessStrategic board game
mahjong · word game · board game · escape room · treasure hunt · disentanglement
Perplexing problem or question
- dilemmaForced choice between undesirables
- quandaryState of perplexity
- paradoxSeemingly absurd truth
- perplexityMental state of confusion
bewilderment · head-scratcher · stumper · bafflement · mystery · enigma · uncertainty · predicament
Something hard to fathom
- whodunitCrime fiction identifying perpetrator
- clueSolving aid
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
- crypticObscure in meaning
unknown · unexplained · intrigue · hidden · secret · unraveling · piecing together · investigation
Parts of something divided
- interlockingEngaging by overlap
- assemblyConstructing from components
- edgesOuter limits or boundaries
- cornersWhere edges converge
completion · picture · tableau · mosaic · tessellation · fitting · segments · pattern
Answer or liquid mixture
- answerSolution to query
- clueSolving aid
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- decipherConvert code to plaintext
unravel · crack · decode · unlock · revelation · aha moment · figuring out · working out
State of being hard
- problemMatter requiring resolution
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- testEvaluative examination
- trialJudicial examination of claims
task · hurdle · complexity · demanding · intellectual · mental · stimulating · satisfying
riddle
Puzzling question to solve
anagram · cryptogram · acrostic · tangram · rebus · cipher · wordplay · word search · brain teaser · lateral thinking
crossword
Clue-based letter grid
chess · mahjong · word game · board game · escape room · treasure hunt · disentanglement
conundrum
Perplexing problem or question
perplexity · bewilderment · head-scratcher · stumper · bafflement · mystery · enigma · uncertainty · predicament · poser
enigma
Something hard to fathom
- whodunitCrime fiction identifying perpetrator
- clueSolving aid
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
cryptic · unknown · unexplained · intrigue · hidden · secret · unraveling · piecing together · investigation · suspense
pieces
Parts of something divided
- interlockingEngaging by overlap
- assemblyConstructing from components
- edgesOuter limits or boundaries
corners · completion · picture · tableau · mosaic · tessellation · fitting · segments · pattern · cardboard
solution
Answer or liquid mixture
- answerSolution to query
- clueSolving aid
- breakthroughSudden important advance
decipher · unravel · crack · decode · unlock · revelation · aha moment · figuring out · working out · reasoning
difficulty
State of being hard
trial · task · hurdle · complexity · demanding · intellectual · mental · stimulating · satisfying · frustrating
- loisirssport, lecture, cinema, musique, cuisine
- pastimeshobbies, amusement, cards, crafting, hobby
- puzzlessudoku, crossword, jigsaw, Rubik's Cube, brainteasers
- toysteddy bear, doll, dolls, stuffed animal, blocks
- playthingstoy, ball, doll, blocks, teddy bear
- gameplaypower-up, level cap, save point, game over, tutorial level
puzzleclarity
State of being understandable
understanding · comprehension · certainty · enlightenment · lucidity
puzzleclarify
Make something understandable
explain · elucidate · enlighten · illuminate · demystify
puzzlesolution
Answer or liquid mixture
answer · resolution · explanation · key · revelation
- jigsaw puzzleSegmented image to reassemble
- crossword puzzleClued letter grid game
- word puzzleLanguage-based mental game
- puzzle gamesEntertainment demanding problem-solving
- puzzle booksVolumes of mental challenges
- puzzle outSolve by reasoning
puzzled, puzzling, puzzles, puzzler, puzzlement, puzzle out, puzzlers, puzzlements, unpuzzling