puzzling
Americanadjective
-
confusing or baffling.
a puzzling answer.
noun
-
the skill or pastime of constructing or working crossword or other puzzles.
Other Word Forms
- puzzlingly adverb
Etymology
Origin of puzzling
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He told me after our interview was over that he'd found the question "humbling and puzzling".
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
Byrne’s well-earned accolades allow “Tow” to fare better than it otherwise would have, while also causing “Tow” to horseshoe back to its starting point as an overall puzzling career choice.
From Salon • Mar. 22, 2026
Gold has been the most puzzling asset of all.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 21, 2026
What is puzzling is that I filmed and published that 19 years ago.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026
But Jinny had plenty to think about without puzzling out Sam.
From "Orphan Island" by Laurel Snyder
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.