6 results for: perplex

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

per·plex

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.

[Origin: 1585–95; back formation from perplexed

]

—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.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
perplex

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

per·plex Audio Help (pər-plěks') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. per·plexed, per·plex·ing, per·plex·es

To confuse or trouble with uncertainty or doubt. See Synonyms at puzzle.
To make confusedly intricate; complicate.

[Back-formation from Middle English perplexed, puzzled; see perplexed.]

per·plex'ing·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

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]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version) - Cite This Source - Share This
perplex [pəˈpleks] verb

to puzzle or confuse (someone); to make (someone) unable to understand
Example: She was perplexed by his questions.

Arabic:	يُحَيِّر، يُرْبِك
Chinese (Simplified):	困惑
Chinese (Traditional):	困惑
Czech:	zmást
Danish:	gøre perpleks; forvirre
Dutch:	verbluffen
Estonian:	kimbatusse viima
Finnish:	hämmentyä
French:	rendre perplexe
German:	verwirren
Greek:	μπερδεύω, σαστίζω
Hungarian:	megzavar
Icelandic:	rugla, gera ráðvilltan
Indonesian:	membingungkan
Italian:	confondere, rendere perplesso*

Japanese:	まごつかせる
Korean:	당혹케 하다; 난감하게 하다
Latvian:	apmulsināt
Lithuanian:	(su)gluminti, apstulbinti
Norwegian:	forvirre, gjøre rådvill
Polish:	zbijać z tropu
Portuguese (Brazil):	deixar perplexo, confundir
Portuguese (Portugal):	desorientar
Romanian:	a rămâne perplex
Russian:	ставить в тупик;запутывать
Slovak:	zmiasť
Slovenian:	zmesti
Spanish:	dejar perplejo, desconcertar
Swedish:	förvirra, förbrylla, göra perplex
Turkish:	şaşırtmak

See also: perplexity

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.

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