Definitions for perplex
pərˈplɛksper·plex

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. perplex, vex, stick, get, puzzle, mystify, baffle, beat, pose, bewilder, flummox, stupefy, nonplus, gravel, amaze, dumbfoundverb

   be a mystery or bewildering to

   "This beats me!"; "Got me--I don't know the answer!"; "a vexing problem"; "This question really stuck me"

2. complicate, perplexverb

   make more complicated

   "There was a new development that complicated the matter"

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. perplexverb

   To cause to feel baffled; to puzzle.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Perplexadjective

   Intricate; difficult. Perplexed is the word in use.

   Etymology: perplex, Lat. perplexus, Lat.

   How the soul directs the spirits for the motion of the body, according to the several animal exigents, is perplex in the theory. Joseph Glanvill, Scept.

2. To PERPLEXverb

   Etymology: perplenus, Latin.

   1. To disturb with doubtful notions; to entangle; to make anxious; to teaze with suspense or ambiguity; to distract; to embarrass; to puzzle.

   Being greatly perplexed in his mind, he determined to go into Persia. 1 Mac. iii. 31.

   Themselves with doubts they day and night perplex. John Denham.

   He perplexes the minds of the fair sex with nice speculations of philosophy, when he should engage their hearts. Dryden.

   We can distinguish no general truths, or at least shall be apt to perplex the mind. John Locke.

   2. To make intricate; to involve; to complicate.

   Their way
   Lies through the perplex’d paths of this drear wood. John Milton.

   We both are involv’d
   In the same intricate perplext distress. Joseph Addison, Cato.

   What was thought obscure, perplexed, and too hard for our weak parts, will lie open to the understanding in a fair view. John Locke.

   3. To plague; to torment; to vex. A sense not proper.

   Chloe’s the wonder of her sex,
   ’Tis well her heart is tender,
   How might such killing eyes perplex,
   With virtue to defend her. George Granville.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Perplexadjective

   to involve; to entangle; to make intricate or complicated, and difficult to be unraveled or understood; as, to perplex one with doubts

2. Perplexadjective

   to embarrass; to puzzle; to distract; to bewilder; to confuse; to trouble with ambiguity, suspense, or anxiety

3. Perplexadjective

   to plague; to vex; to tormen

4. Perplexadjective

   intricate; difficult

5. Etymology: [L. perplexus entangled, intricate; per + plectere, plexum, to plait, braid: cf. F. perplexe. See Per-, and Plait.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Perplex

   per-pleks′, v.t. to make difficult to be understood: to embarrass: to puzzle: to tease with suspense or doubt.—n. (obs.) a difficulty.—adv. Perplex′edly.—n. Perplex′edness.—adj. Perplex′ing.—adv. Perplex′ingly.—n. Perplex′ity, state of being perplexed: confusion of mind arising from doubt, &c.: intricacy: embarrassment: doubt. [Fr.,—L. perplexus, entangled—per, completely, plexus, involved, pa.p. of plectĕre.]

Matched Categories

1. • Change
   • Confuse

How to pronounce perplex?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

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   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

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   Fred

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   Tessa

   South African

How to say perplex in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of perplex in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of perplex in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of perplex in a Sentence

1. Matthew Arnold:

   The working-class is now issuing from its hiding-place to assert an Englishman's heaven-born privilege of doing as he likes, and is beginning to perplex us by marching where it likes, meeting where it likes, bawling what it likes, breaking what it likes.

2. George Du Maurier:

   Sick I am of idle words, past all reconciling, Words that weary and perplex and pander and conceal, Wake the sounds that cannot lie, for all their sweet beguiling The language one need fathom not, but only hear and feel.

3. George Du Maurier:

   Sick I am of idle words, past all reconciling, Words that weary and perplex and pander and conceal, Wake the sounds that cannot lie, for all their sweet beguiling; The language one need fathom not, but only hear and feel.

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