puzzle P₃U₁Z₁₀Z₁₀L₁E₁

Noun 3 meanings

1. The state of feeling confused or mystified because one cannot understand a complicated matter, a problem, etc.; bewilderment, confusion; (countable) often in in a puzzle: an instance of this.

2. A thing such as a complicated matter or a problem which is difficult to make sense of or understand; also, a person who is difficult to make sense of or understand; an enigma.

   “Where he went after he left the house is a puzzle.”

3. Often preceded by a descriptive word: a game or toy, or a problem, requiring some effort to complete or work out, which is intended as a pastime and/or to test one's mental ability.

   “crossword puzzle jigsaw puzzle”

Verb 4 meanings

1. To cause (oneself or someone, or their mind, etc.) to feel confused or mystified because they cannot understand a complicated matter, a problem, etc.; to confuse, to mystify, to perplex.

2. To use (one's brain or mind) to try to work out a complicated matter, a problem, etc.; also, to try to work out (a complicated matter, a problem, etc.).

3. Often followed by about, over, or upon: to feel confused or mystified because one cannot understand a complicated matter, a problem, etc.

4. Often followed by about, over, or or upon: to think deeply in bewilderment to try to work out a complicated matter, a problem, etc.

   “We puzzled over the curious-shaped lock, but were unable to discover how the key should be inserted.”

Similar and opposite words

• MUZZLE₂₆
• NOZZLE₂₄
• DRIZZLE₂₆
• DAZZLE₂₅
• SIZZLE₂₄
• FIZZLE₂₇
• RAZZLE₂₄
• NUZZLE₂₄
• BAMBOOZLE₂₄
• GUZZLE₂₅
• EMBEZZLE₃₀
• FRIZZLE₂₈

• MUZZLE₂₆
• NUZZLE₂₄
• GUZZLE₂₅
• FUZZLE₂₇
• WUZZLE₂₇