stumped

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.

Because a famous math problem that stumped humans for the better part of a century has finally been toppled—by AI.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

Celebrities including Brad Pitt and Diane Keaton stumped for the Zumthor design at the meeting, eclipsing the voices of many citizens who questioned the project — and the board voted unanimously to release the funds.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

The actor stars in a solo off-Broadway show by David Cale about a playwright stumped by the blank page who finds a surprising, unsettling source of inspiration in the form of a stalker.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

The thorny issue of what to do with Russian assets has not only stumped Western leaders but also officials in Berlin who are saddled with three crumbling buildings belonging to Moscow.

From Barron's • Feb. 8, 2026

Thinking all the time was too much even for Francis, and often when he was stumped by his equations he used to pump my reservoir of phage lore.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson