puzzles

VERB

baffle, confuse

Synonyms

STRONGEST

amaze befuddle bemuse bewilder complicate confound disconcert distract disturb dumbfound flabbergast flummox frustrate mystify nonplus perplex rattle stump

STRONG

addle bamboozle beat befog buffalo discombobulate floor foil obscure pose snow stir stumble throw

WEAK

get to profundicate psych out put off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

appease calm clarify clear up comfort enlighten explain explicate facilitate help soothe

STRONG

aid assist lose

WEAK

elucidate illustrate not care unravel

VERB

wonder about

Synonyms

STRONG

brood cudgel marvel muse ponder study

WEAK

ask oneself mull over rack one's brains think about think hard

Antonyms

STRONG

forget ignore neglect

WEAK

clarify elucidate explain illustrate not care unravel

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.

Puzzles that appeared in dreams were solved at a much higher rate than those that did not.

From Science Daily • Feb. 15, 2026

Puzzles were how he processed the world, a way—like art—of “making order out of chaos.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

Puzzles entice his keen intellect, but he will have to learn the difference between a paradox and a riddle.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 13, 2025

Liberty Puzzles made the hottest gift of pandemic Christmas.

From Slate • Dec. 19, 2023

Puzzles, games, and riddles aren’t discussed—in many cases, I’m convinced, because it’s too easy for bright ten-year-olds to best their teachers.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos