PUZZLING

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does puzzling mean? 

• PUZZLING (adjective)
  The adjective PUZZLING has 2 senses:

1. not clear to the understanding

2. lacking clarity of meaning; causing confusion or perplexity

  Familiarity information: PUZZLING used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PUZZLING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Not clear to the understanding

Synonyms:

enigmatic; enigmatical; puzzling

Context example:

prophetic texts so enigmatic that their meaning has been disputed for centuries

Similar:

incomprehensible; uncomprehensible (difficult to understand)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lacking clarity of meaning; causing confusion or perplexity

Synonyms:

confusing; perplexing; puzzling

Context example:

a puzzling statement

Similar:

unclear (not clear to the mind)

 Context examples 

And what is puzzling me is why they want me now.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Most puzzling to astronomers, FU Orionis and the rare objects like it — there are only about 10 of them — are located in star-forming regions.

(Loneliest Young Star Seen by Spitzer and WISE, NASA)

She fell asleep before she could answer the question, and found it quite as puzzling when she awoke the next morning.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

I was puzzling to make out the subject of a picture on the wall, when the door opened, and an individual carrying a light entered; another followed close behind.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

So, finding numerous dusty starbursts shining at the same time like this is very puzzling, and something that we still need to understand.

(Ancient Galaxy Megamergers, ESO)

Exactly why the bright methane ice settles on these crater rims and walls is a mystery; also puzzling is why this same effect doesn’t occur broadly across Pluto.

(Pluto’s ‘Halo’ Craters, NASA)

I was still puzzling over it when I heard the door gently close again, and her footsteps coming up the stairs.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

That it was mockery made the situation more puzzling to her.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Thunderstorms that form during the day are less puzzling than nighttime storms.

(Scientists tackle mystery of thunderstorms that strike at night, NSF)

It is your commonplace, featureless crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is the most difficult to identify.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)