perplexing

/pərˈplɛksɪŋ/
/pəˈplɛksɪŋ/
IPA guide

Other forms: perplexingly

The adjective perplexing describes something it is confusing. Before you're fluent in Arabic, you may find the unfamiliar alphabet to be totally perplexing.

The Latin root of perplexing is perplexus, which means involved, confused, or intricate. This root is also found in the verb perplex, or confuse. Problems are often described as perplexing, especially when several attempts to solve them are unsuccessful. You may have a perplexing decision to make, like where to go to college or whether to stay friends with a fun person who has disappointed you in some way.

Definitions of perplexing
  1. adjective
    lacking clarity of meaning; causing confusion or perplexity
    “perplexing to someone who knew nothing about it”
    synonyms: confusing, puzzling
    unclear
    not clear to the mind
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Word Family

Vocabulary lists containing perplexing

"Shooting an Elephant"

Although known more for his novel that humanized animals, George Orwell reflects in an essay about the time when he had to, as a police officer in Burma, shoot a runaway elephant. The author presents this incident with humor, while also emphasizing his hatred of his role in the British Empire. Here are all the word lists to support the reading of Grade 12 Unit 1's texts from SpringBoard's Common Core ELA series: My Papa's Waltz, in just-, The Last Word, Mushrooms, I Remember, Invisible Man, Four Skinny Trees, Dirty Work, On Seeing England for the First Time, Speaking with Hands, The White Man's Burden, The Poor Man's Burden, Shooting an Elephant, Lindo Jong: Double Face, Stranger in the Village

Sam Shepard (1943-2017) Tribute List

Playwright and actor Sam Shepard died on July 27, 2017 of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 73 years old. Shepard won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1979 for his play Buried Child. His tales of families coming apart at the seams leapt of the stage with an urgency and electricity rarely seen in the theater before or since. Shepard also found success as an actor in Hollywood, notably in 1984's The Right Stuff, in which he played Chuck Yeager. Shepard was nominated for an Academy Award for the role. As is evident in the quotes below, Shepard was interested in authenticity and immediacy, and had a lot of interesting things to say about art and life. Here are eleven vocabulary words from the words and work of Sam Shepard.

Robert Loggia (1930-2015) Tribute List

Robert Loggia, an actor with a memorably gruff voice known for playing cops, mobsters and coaches, died on December 4, 2015 at the age of 85 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. For all the times he played bad guys, Loggia will probably be best remembered for a joyous moment, dancing on the oversized piano with Tom Hanks in Big. Loggia also played an important role in Scarface with Al Pacino. Here are vocabulary words from ten quotes from Robert Loggia both in and out of character.

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