puzzling: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to Formal; common in both spoken and written language.
Quick answer
What does “puzzling” mean?
Causing one to feel confused or perplexed because it is difficult to understand, explain, or solve.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Causing one to feel confused or perplexed because it is difficult to understand, explain, or solve.
Describing a situation, event, statement, or person that presents an intellectual challenge, mystery, or apparent contradiction that is not easily resolved.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and grammar are identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations of intellectual challenge and mild confusion.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “puzzling” in a Sentence
It is puzzling that + clausefind something puzzlingbe puzzling to someoneremain puzzlingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “puzzling” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She spent the afternoon puzzling over the cryptic crossword.
- I'm still puzzling out how to assemble this flat-pack furniture.
American English
- He's been puzzling over the tax forms all morning.
- Researchers are puzzling out the cause of the anomaly.
adverb
British English
- He looked at me puzzlingly, as if I were speaking a foreign language.
American English
- She shook her head puzzlingly, unable to comprehend the instructions.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe unexplained market trends, consumer behaviour, or financial discrepancies.
Academic
Describes anomalous research results, contradictory theories, or complex philosophical problems.
Everyday
Used for confusing instructions, strange behaviour from friends, or inexplicable everyday occurrences.
Technical
Can describe bugs in software, anomalous scientific data, or unexplained engineering failures.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “puzzling”
- Using 'puzzling' as a verb (e.g., 'He was puzzling the problem' – incorrect; correct: 'He was puzzled by the problem' or 'He found the problem puzzling').
- Confusing 'puzzling' (adj.) with 'puzzling over' (verb phrase).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Puzzling' often implies an intriguing intellectual challenge. 'Confusing' is more general and can imply a lack of clarity causing mistakes. 'Perplexing' is slightly more formal and suggests a deeper, more troubling state of bewilderment.
Yes, but it typically describes a person's behaviour, statements, or motives (e.g., 'a puzzling individual'), not their physical appearance. It means they are hard to understand.
It is neutral but context-dependent. It can be negative (a puzzling error in a system) or positive/neutral (a puzzling mystery novel that is enjoyable to solve). It primarily denotes a cognitive state, not an emotional judgement.
The primary related noun is 'puzzlement'. The situation itself can be called 'a puzzle'.
Causing one to feel confused or perplexed because it is difficult to understand, explain, or solve.
Puzzling is usually neutral to formal; common in both spoken and written language. in register.
Puzzling: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpʌz.lɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpʌz.lɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A puzzling turn of events”
- “The plot thickens (related narrative concept for something becoming more puzzling).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PUZZLE that is making you LING-er, making you stay and think about it for a long time because it's PUZZLING.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERSTANDING IS SEEING / CONFUSION IS BEING IN FOG: A puzzling situation is like trying to see clearly through a fog or mist.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'puzzling' correctly?