puz ‧ zled /ˈpʌz ə ld/ BrE AmE adjective
confused and unable to understand something:
‘Dinner?’ Sam asked, looking puzzled.
puzzled about/as to/at
John seemed puzzled about what the question meant.
puzzled that
Harry was puzzled that Nicholas didn’t seem to recognize him.
puzzled look/expression/frown etc
Alice read the letter with a puzzled expression on her face.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ confused unable to understand what someone is saying or what is happening:
I was rather confused by his question.
|
She gave me a confused look.
|
With the huge range of computers on the market, it’s easy to get confused.
|
She felt hurt and confused when her husband left her.
▪ puzzled ( also perplexed formal ) confused because you cannot understand something, especially because it is different from what you expect:
The doctor was puzzled by the man’s symptoms and ordered several further tests.
|
He had a puzzled expression on his face.
|
Ross looked perplexed when the audience laughed.
▪ baffled very confused and unable to understand something, even though you have tried hard for a long time:
Detectives admit they are baffled by the case.
|
a baffled expression
▪ bewildered /bɪˈwɪldəd $ -ərd/ very confused and surprised when something unusual and unexpected happens to you:
He was bewildered to find three policemen at the front door.
|
Bewildered train passengers watched as the man was arrested.
|
At first she was bewildered by all the noise and activity of the city.
▪ bemused /bɪˈmjuːzd/ confused and surprised by what has happened, or by what someone has said:
Local residents seem bemused by the sudden arrival of all the tourists.
|
She told him to leave, but he just sat there with a bemused expression.
▪ can’t think straight spoken to have difficulty thinking clearly, for example because you are too tired, too busy, or because a lot of things are happening around you:
I can’t think straight with all this noise going on.