6 results for: perplex
per·plex
Audio Help [per-pleks] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
Audio Help [per-pleks] Pronunciation Key –verb (used with object)
| 1. | to cause to be puzzled or bewildered over what is not understood or certain; confuse mentally: Her strange response perplexed me. |
| 2. | to make complicated or confused, as a matter or question. |
| 3. | to hamper with complications, confusion, or uncertainty. |
—Related forms
per·plex·er, noun
per·plex·ing·ly, adverb
—Synonyms 1. mystify, confound. 2. tangle, snarl. 3. vex, annoy, bother.
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
perplex
To learn more about perplex visit Britannica.com
| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
| per·plex
Audio Help (pər-plěks') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. per·plexed, per·plex·ing, per·plex·es
[Back-formation from Middle English perplexed, puzzled; see perplexed.] per·plex'ing·ly adv. |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
| perplex | |
verb | |
| 1. | be a mystery or bewildering to; "This beats me!"; "Got me--I don't know the answer!"; "a vexing problem"; "This question really stuck me" |
| 2. | make more complicated; "There was a new development that complicated the matter" [syn: complicate] [ant: simplify] |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
perplex [pəˈpleks] verb
to puzzle or confuse (someone); to make (someone) unable to understand
Example: She was perplexed by his questions.
See also: perplexityExample: She was perplexed by his questions.
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| Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version), © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd. |
Perplex
Em*bar"rass\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embarrassed; p. pr. & vb. n. Embarrassing.] [F. embarrasser (cf. Sp. embarazar, Pg. embara?ar, Pr. barras bar); pref. em- (L. in) + LL. barra bar. See Bar.]1. To hinder from freedom of thought, speech, or action by something which impedes or confuses mental action; to perplex; to discompose; to disconcert; as, laughter may embarrass an orator. 2. To hinder from liberty of movement; to impede; to obstruct; as, business is embarrassed; public affairs are embarrassed. 3. (Com.) To involve in difficulties concerning money matters; to incumber with debt; to beset with urgent claims or demands; -- said of a person or his affairs; as, a man or his business is embarrassed when he can not meet his pecuniary engagements. Syn: To hinder; perplex; entangle; confuse; puzzle; disconcert; abash; distress. -- To Embarrass, Puzzle, Perplex. We are puzzled when our faculties are confused by something we do not understand. We are perplexed when our feelings, as well as judgment, are so affected that we know not how to decide or act. We are embarrassed when there is some bar or hindrance upon us which impedes our powers of thought, speech, or motion. A schoolboy is puzzled by a difficult sum; a reasoner is perplexed by the subtleties of his opponent; a youth is sometimes so embarrassed before strangers as to lose his presence of mind.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
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