Synonyms of puzzle
53 similar words
Another word for puzzle is confuse. Other synonyms of puzzle are baffle, confound, perplex, fluster and bewilder.
Synonyms and similar words for puzzle
nounThe state of feeling confused or mystified because one cannot understand a complicated matter, a...
nounA thing such as a complicated matter or a problem which is difficult to make sense of or...
- anybody's guessSynonym of anyone's guess.
- anyone's guessA mystery; something unknown or unpredictable.
- conundrumA difficult question or riddle, especially one using a play on words in the answer.
- mystery
- cruxA puzzle or difficulty.
nounOften preceded by a descriptive word: a game or toy, or a problem, requiring some effort to...
- brainteaserA problem or puzzle devised to exercise the brain and mind.
- poserA particularly difficult question or puzzle.
verbTo cause (oneself or someone, or their mind, etc.) to feel confused or mystified because they...
- empuzzleTo puzzle.
- addle
- baffleTo confuse or perplex (someone) completely; to bewilder, to confound, to puzzle.
- vex
- lose
- embroil
- stickTo be puzzled (at something), have difficulty understanding.
- stumpTo stop, confuse, or puzzle.
- baffoundTo perplex; to bewilder.
- bamboozle
- bedevilTo perplex or bewilder.
- befuddleTo perplex, confuse (someone).
- throw
- bemud figuratively
- bemuse
- bewilderTo confuse, disorientate, or puzzle someone, especially with many different choices.
- bumfuzzleTo confuse or fluster.
- complicate
- confoundTo perplex or puzzle.
- confuddle slangTo confuse thoroughly.
- confuseTo puzzle, perplex, baffle, bewilder (somebody); to afflict by being complicated, contradictory, or otherwise difficult...
- confuzzle slangTo confuse or puzzle.
- dazzle
- discombobulateTo throw into a state of confusion; to befuddle or perplex.
- disconcertTo bring into confusion.
- blind
- dumbfoundTo confuse and bewilder; to leave speechless.
- entangle figurativelyTo ensnare.
- ferhoodleTo confuse or puzzle.
- flabagast
- flabbergastTo overwhelm with bewilderment; to amaze, confound, or stun, especially in a ludicrous manner.
- flabbergasterTo perplex or amaze; to shock or frighten.
- flurry
- flusterTo throw (someone) into a state of confusion or panic; to befuddle, to confuse.
- flummox
- fuddle
- jumble
- mix upTo confuse or reverse.
- muddle
- muddy figurativelyTo confuse (a person or their thinking); to muddle.
- ravelTo confuse or perplex (someone or something).
- perplexTo cause to feel baffled; to puzzle.
- knot obsoleteTo entangle or perplex; to puzzle.
verbTo (intentionally) make (something) complicated or confused, and so difficult to resolve or...
Meaning of puzzle
- noun 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.
- noun 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.
- noun 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.
puzzle in other languages
Questions about synonyms of puzzle
- What is another word for puzzle?
- Puzzle has 53 synonyms on Word.ws, such as confuse, baffle, confound, perplex, fluster, bewilder, befuddle and bedevil.
- What does puzzle mean?
- Puzzle means 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.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: puzzle (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “Synonyms of puzzle.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/puzzle. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.