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.

adjective

aware , certain , cognizant , sure

adjective

at a loss , at sea , baffled , bewildered , bollixed , clueless , come apart , come unzipped , discombobulated * , dopey * , doubtful , floored , foggy , fouled up , hung up * , in a fog , lost , loused up , messed up , mind-blown , mixed up , mucked up , mystified , nonplussed , perplexed , rattled , screwed up , shook , shook up , spaced out * , stuck , stumped , thrown , unglued , without a clue