perplexing
from
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
perplexing
adj 1: lacking clarity of meaning; causing confusion or
perplexity; "sent confusing signals to Iraq"; "perplexing
to someone who knew nothing about it"; "a puzzling
statement" [syn: {confusing}, {perplexing}, {puzzling}]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Perplex \Per*plex"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Perplexed}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Perplexing}.] [L. perplexari. See {Perplex}, a.]
1. To involve; to entangle; to make intricate or complicated,
and difficult to be unraveled or understood; as, to
perplex one with doubts.
[1913 Webster]
No artful wildness to perplex the scene. --Pope.
[1913 Webster]
What was thought obscure, perplexed, and too hard
for our weak parts, will lie open to the
understanding in a fair view. --Locke.
[1913 Webster]
2. To embarrass; to puzzle; to distract; to bewilder; to
confuse; to trouble with ambiguity, suspense, or anxiety.
"Perplexd beyond self-explication." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
We are perplexed, but not in despair. --2 Cor. iv.
8.
[1913 Webster]
We can distinguish no general truths, or at least
shall be apt to perplex the mind. --Locke.
[1913 Webster]
3. To plague; to vex; to torment. --Glanvill.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: To entangle; involve; complicate; embarrass; puzzle;
bewilder; confuse; distract. See {Embarrass}.
[1913 Webster]
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
38 Moby Thesaurus words for "perplexing":
Byzantine, arcane, baffling, bewildering, bothering, complex,
complicated, confounding, confusing, convoluted, cryptic,
discomposing, disconcerting, dismaying, distracting, disturbing,
embarrassing, enigmatic, flabbergasting, impenetrable,
incomprehensible, intricate, involved, knotty, labyrinthine,
mysterious, mystifying, paradoxical, perturbing, problematic,
puzzling, recondite, riddling, sphinxlike, stupefying, twisted,
unfathomable, upsetting
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