Completely confused or puzzled by something complex or contradictory. Unable to understand or make sense of a situation.
From Latin 'perplexus' meaning entangled or confused, composed of 'per-' (thoroughly) and 'plexus' (twisted or braided). The word suggests being so tangled up in confusion that one cannot find a way out.
The Latin root 'plexus' also gives us 'complex' and 'perplex' - all relating to things being woven or twisted together. Being perplexed is like being caught in a mental knot where the more you try to understand, the more tangled your thoughts become, perfectly capturing the frustrating experience of deep confusion.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.