PUZZLES Synonyms: 96 Similar and Opposite Words

puzzles 1 of 2

noun

plural of puzzle

as in mysteries

something hard to understand or explain the final fate of the colonists at Roanoke remains a puzzle to this very day

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puzzles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of puzzle

as in baffles

to throw into a state of mental uncertainty it is the cause of the disease that puzzles doctors

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of puzzles

Noun

These novels are puzzles at their core, and using logic to solve the mystery before it’s revealed in the book is, to me, the main pleasure in reading them. — New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026 The next two puzzles seem, on the surface, to have nothing to do with the first two. — Dana MacKenzie, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026 On Saturday, the singer and talk show host took to X to share details of her recent experience at Art of Play, a store known for its collection of toys, games, books, puzzles and other unique items. — Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026 Amenities include a Morso wood stove, a turntable with speakers, and a living room stocked with puzzles and games. — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2026 Unfortunately, Jenna sucks at puzzles, and Christian (who the editors are still not allowing to talk) is great at them. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026 Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles. — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 30 Sep. 2026 Little ones can color, solve puzzles, read stories, and more in this booklet. — Anja Webb, Parents, 18 Sep. 2026 The size, scope, and, candidly, the expense of pulling it off are all puzzles that Flanagan still has to solve. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026

Verb

These Companies Are Ready To Cash In Sixsmith argues his firm is unusual in pushing more traders through to genuine live accounts, which is why the reluctance to go there puzzles him. — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 The pitch can move to either direction of the plate — a profile that still puzzles his teammates and pitch recognition tools. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 1 July 2026 Although many economists say the market was overvalued and a decline was inevitable, what triggered the crash is open to debate, and the sheer magnitude of the drop still puzzles economists. — Barbara Hagenbaugh, USA Today, 22 June 2026 What still puzzles me, amid all these noteworthy projects, is Dudamel’s way with the standard repertory. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 These word puzzles all covertly reference the years-old disappearance of Charlie, Martha’s brilliant older sister. — The Know, Denver Post, 4 June 2026 The lineage of these hybrids traces back to Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island, a discovery that still puzzles scientists today. — ABC News, 20 Feb. 2026 While everyone else puzzles it over, Coe is already on his way to the multi-faith ceremony at Abbotsfield, where Mayor Jaffrey is joining other mourners to honor the 11 people killed in the assault that opened the season. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for puzzles

Noun

There are more mysteries to unfurl in future episodes of Pet Cemetery Murders, starting with the isolated Grey Gardens–esque dynamic between Dorothy and her own mother, Grace, who opened the pet cemetery in 1946.

— Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 2026
As Halzen and countless other scientists have found over the years, Antarctica’s extreme conditions serve as a crucial gateway to understanding some of the greatest mysteries of the cosmos.

— Daniella McCahey, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of mysteries

Verb

But Danny Niemela, a contractor at ArDan Construction, says that the process baffles him.

— Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 15 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, McGrew agreed to adjustments, including adding baffles to reduce sound from a attached generator for the tower and replacing tower fencing that incorporated barbed wire with taller, more natural looking fencing.

— Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026

Definition of baffles

Verb

The legal system dehumanizes her, the support group confuses her, and one of her friends painfully disappoints her.

— Carey Purcell, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
This confuses each Nyota but also those around them, who note that the Nyotas have rather quickly assumed new hairstyles but also that neither is behaving quite like herself.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of confuses

Verb

As fans of the comedian know, Ali G is a streetwise interviewer whose hip hop slang often bewilders guests such as Noam Chomsky, Andy Rooney and Newt Gingrich.

— Brent Lang, Variety, 7 July 2026
The narrator and his wife find that their attachment to the charismatic and cryptic Chibi grows with the cat’s increasing visits, in a way that bewilders them but somehow bonds them closer together.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 June 2026