Puzzle — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈpə-zəl/ puz·zle

Meaning & Definition of Puzzle

Puzzle (verb)

  1. to offer or represent to (someone) a problem difficult to solve or a situation difficult to resolve, challenge mentally; also, to exert (oneself, one's mind, etc.) over such a problem or situation
  2. complicate, entangle
  3. to solve with difficulty or ingenuity

Puzzle (noun)

  1. the state of being puzzled, perplexity
  2. something that is difficult to solve, resolve, or understand, something that puzzles
  3. something (such as a game or test) that is designed to be challenging to answer or solve

Puzzle (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something hard to understand or explain

    "the final fate of the colonists at Roanoke remains a puzzle to this very day"

    similar: closed book, conundrum, enigma, head-scratcher, mystery, mystification, puzzlement, riddle, secret, why
    related: brainteaser, case, challenge, knot, matter, perplexity, poser, problem, stumper, trouble

Puzzle (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to throw into a state of mental uncertainty

    "it is the cause of the disease that puzzles doctors"

    similar: addle, baffle, bamboozle, beat, befog, befuddle, bemuse, bewilder, buffalo, confound, confuse, discombobulate, disorient, flummox, fox, fuddle, get, gravel, maze, muddle, muddy, mystify, perplex, pose, vex, blow one's mind, go to one's head
    related: stick, stump, weird out, abash, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle, agitate, bother, chagrin, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, stun, unhinge, unsettle, upset, beguile, cozen, deceive, delude, dupe, fool, gull, hoax, hoodwink, humbug, misguide, mislead, snow, string along, take in, trick
    near: assure, reassure, satisfy, enlighten, inform

Related Entry: Puzzle (out) (verb)

Puzzle (out) is a different word from Puzzle. The synonyms below are for puzzle (out), not for puzzle.

  1. to find an answer for through reasoning

    "I was able to puzzle out the riddle in a fairly short time"

    similar: answer, break, crack, dope (out), figure out, resolve, riddle (out), solve, unravel, unriddle, work, work out
    related: conclude, decide, deduce, gather, infer, judge, reason, clear (up), iron out, straighten (out), unscramble, untangle, untie, assume, conjecture, divine, guess, presume, speculate, decipher, decode

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Puzzle

The most common words with a similar meaning to Puzzle:

closed book, conundrum, enigma, head-scratcher, mystery, mystification, puzzlement, riddle, secret, why, addle, baffle, bamboozle, beat, befog, befuddle, bemuse, bewilder, buffalo, confound, confuse, discombobulate, disorient, flummox, fox, fuddle, get, gravel, maze, muddle, muddy, mystify, perplex, pose, vex, blow one's mind, go to one's head

Related Words for Puzzle

brainteaser, case, challenge, knot, matter, perplexity, poser, problem, stumper, trouble, stick, stump, weird out, abash, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle, agitate, bother, chagrin, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet

Near Antonyms of Puzzle

assure, reassure, satisfy, enlighten, inform

Word Forms of Puzzle

Inflections: puzzled, puzzling

Derived words: puzzler (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Puzzle

origin unknown

First known use: 1582t

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Puzzle

Words & Phrases Containing Puzzle

puzzle out, puzzle over, Chinese puzzle, jigsaw puzzle, monkey puzzle, picture puzzle, crossword puzzle, piece of the puzzle

Frequently Asked Questions about Puzzle

What does "Puzzle" mean?

"Puzzle" means to offer or represent to (someone) a problem difficult to solve or a situation difficult to resolve, challenge mentally; also, to exert (oneself, one's mind, etc.) over such a problem or situation. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to offer or represent to (someone) a problem difficult to solve or a situation difficult to resolve, challenge mentally; also, to exert (oneself, one's mind, etc.) over such a problem or situation. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Puzzle"?

Other words for "Puzzle" include closed book, conundrum, enigma, head-scratcher, mystery, mystification, puzzlement and riddle. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Puzzle" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Puzzle"?

There are 90 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Puzzle". Common alternatives include closed book, conundrum, enigma, head-scratcher, mystery, mystification, puzzlement, riddle, secret and why.

How do you use "Puzzle" in a sentence?

Examples of "Puzzle" in a sentence: "the final fate of the colonists at Roanoke remains a puzzle to this very day"; "it is the cause of the disease that puzzles doctors".

Is "Puzzle" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Puzzle" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Puzzle" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Puzzle" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Puzzle"?

"Puzzle" is pronounced /ˈpə-zəl/ and divided into syllables as puz·zle.

What is the origin of the word "Puzzle"?

"Puzzle" comes from origin unknown. First known use: 1582t.