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puzzle

/ˈpʌzəl/

noun

Meaning

  • Anything that is difficult to understand or make sense of.

    "Where he went after he left the house is a puzzle."

  • A game for one or more people that is more or less difficult to work out or complete.

  • A crossword puzzle.

  • A jigsaw puzzle.

  • A riddle.

  • Something made with marvellous skill; something of ingenious construction.

  • The state of being puzzled; perplexity.

    "to be in a puzzle"

Synonyms

anybody's guess,
anyone's guess,
conundrum,
enigma,
mystery,
crossword,
crossword puzzle,
brain-teaser,
poser,
jigsaw,
jigsaw puzzle,
guessing game,
riddle

verb

Meaning

  • To perplex (someone).

  • To think long and carefully, in bewilderment.

    "We puzzled over the curious-shaped lock, but were unable to discover how the key should be inserted."

  • To make intricate; to entangle.