puzzlenoun
uk/ˈpʌz.əl/us/ˈpʌz.əl/C2 [ S ] a situation that is difficult to understand:
Scientists have been trying to solve this puzzle for years.
A2 [ C ] a game or toy in which you have to fit separate pieces together, or a problem or question that you have to answer by using your skill or knowledge:
a jigsaw puzzle
a crossword puzzle
a puzzle book
More examples
- I spent hours reasoning out the solution to the puzzle.
- She had a complex personality that was a real puzzle to me.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Confusion, confusing and feeling confused
- a chicken and egg situation idiom
- addle
- all of a doodah idiom
- all over the place idiom
- at sea idiom
- brainstorm
- disorientate
- disoriented
- distraction
- dither
- dizziness
- dizzying
- ferment
- flutter
- mystique
- not know what hit you idiom
- not know where/which way to turn idiom
- not know whether to laugh or cry idiom
- not know whether you are coming or going idiom
- whirl
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Miscellaneous games & activities
puzzleverb [ I + adv/prep, T ]
uk/ˈpʌz.əl/us/ˈpʌz.əl/C1 to cause someone to feel confused and slightly worried because they cannot understand something, or to think hard about something in order to understand it:
The findings of the survey puzzle me - they're not at all what I would have expected.
[ + question word ] It puzzles me why she said that.
Management are still puzzling about/over how the accident could have happened.
More examples
- The events of that night have been puzzling me for a long time.
- What puzzles me is why he should have left without telling me.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Puzzle and confuse
- addle
- baffle
- bemuse
- bewilder
- blind sb with science idiom
- cloud
- do sb's head in idiom
- flummox
- fox
- fuddle
- knock/throw sb for a loop idiom
- mix
- mix sb up
- muddy
- throw
- throw (sb) a curve (ball) idiom
- throw sb off balance idiom
- tie
- tie sb (up) in knots idiom
- unbalance
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Phrasal verb(s)
puzzle sth out
puzzle over sth