a toy, problem, or other contrivance designed to amuse by presenting difficulties to be solved by ingenuity or patient effort.

something puzzling; a puzzling question, matter, or person.

a puzzled or perplexed condition; bewilderment.

a crossword puzzle

Did you do the puzzle in the newspaper today?

a jigsaw puzzle.

to put (someone) at a loss; mystify; confuse; baffle

Her attitude puzzles me.

to frustrate or confound, as the understanding; perplex

The problem puzzled him for weeks.

to exercise (oneself, one's brain, etc.) over some problem or matter.

Archaic . to make intricate or complicated.

to be perplexed or confused.

to ponder or study over some perplexing problem or matter. ?

puzzle out, to solve by careful study or effort

I was unable to puzzle out the message.

verb

clarify , elucidate , explain , illustrate , unravel , not care

verb

addle , amaze , bamboozle * , beat , befog , befuddle , bemuse , bewilder , buffalo , complicate , confound , discombobulate , disconcert , distract , disturb , dumbfound , flabbergast , floor * , flummox , foil , frustrate , get to * , mystify , nonplus , obscure , perplex , pose , profundicate , psych out , put off , rattle , snow * , stir , stumble , stump , throw , ask oneself , brood , cudgel , marvel , mull over , muse , ponder , rack one’s brains , study , think about , think hard , dizzy , fuddle , jumble , mix up , muddle , anagram , baffle , bamboozle , brainteaser , charade , code , confuse , conundrum , crossword , difficult , enigma , entangle , intrigue , jigsaw , labyrinth , maze , mystery , obfuscate , paradox , poser , rebus , riddle , stupefy , stymie , upset

phrasal verb

crack , decipher , decrypt

noun

conundrum , enigma , perplexity , puzzler , riddle