Puzzle Definition

pŭzəl
puzzled, puzzles, puzzling
noun
puzzles

A toy or problem for testing cleverness, skill, or ingenuity; often, specif., jigsaw puzzle.

Webster's New World
A question, problem, etc. that puzzles.
Webster's New World
Something that baffles or confuses; an enigma.
The puzzle of the author's true identity.
American Heritage
The state of being puzzled; bewilderment.
Webster's New World

Anything that is difficult to understand or make sense of.

Where he went after he left the house is a puzzle.
Wiktionary
Antonyms:
verb
puzzled, puzzles, puzzling
To baffle or confuse mentally by presenting or being a difficult problem or matter.
American Heritage
To perplex; confuse; bewilder; nonplus.
Webster's New World
To be perplexed, etc.
Webster's New World
To exercise one's mind, as over the solution of a problem.
Webster's New World
To clarify or solve (something confusing) by reasoning or study.
He puzzled out the significance of the statement.
American Heritage
Antonyms:
idiom
puzzle out
  • to solve by deep thought or study
Webster's New World
puzzle over
  • to give deep thought to; concentrate on
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Puzzle

Noun

Singular:
puzzle
Plural:
puzzles

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Puzzle

Origin of Puzzle

  • Origin uncertain, originally pusle, possibly pose (“to perplex") +"Ž -le (“(frequentive, diminutive)"). The verb (1590s) “to perplex" seems to predate the noun “state of being perplexed" (circa 1600), “perplexing question" (1650s), “toy" (1814).

    From Wiktionary

  • Origin unknown

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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