as perplexed as the

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as perplexed as the" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to compare someone's level of confusion or bewilderment to that of another person or thing, often implying a shared sense of confusion. Example: "After hearing the unexpected news, she was as perplexed as the rest of the team, who were left in shock."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Contemporary white artists post-Faulkner, post-O'Connor, who want to go to the heart of it are not "imperialist" for the most part but, rather, just as perplexed as the land that made them.

The New Yorker

And the absence of suspicion may leave blue-staters as perplexed as the unabashed patriotism made clear in his Chronicles: "Being born and raised in America, the country of freedom and independence, I had always cherished the values and ideals of equality and liberty.

Huffington Post

"I'm as perplexed as the next person," he said.

The New Yorker

Mostly, it seems, the public is as perplexed as the politicians over the state of the presidential election.

The New York Times

As perplexed as the British once were about Iraq ("so complex, its ways so labyrinthine"), Filkins writes with obvious fascination about Ahmed Chalabi, the Iraqi expatriate who managed to deceive some of the shrewdest politicians and journalists in America.

The Guardian - Books

This is why the internet is awesome: More parody accounts followed: Sarah Michelle Gellar aka Buffy was as perplexed as the rest of us: Our Radio and TV editor Rebecca Nicholson's professional opinion was as follows: Tumblr got involved too: And finally, Buzzfeed created their own list of other names Travolta might struggle with.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

I find myself this Presidents' Day -- in the shadow of Egypt's overthrow of an undemocratic president of long standing -- as perplexed as ever on the matter of God's action in history.

Huffington Post

Math looks different these days from when Louis C.K. and his contemporaries attended school, and many similarly aged parents have found themselves puzzled by the manner in which math concepts are being presented to this generation of learners as well as perplexed as to how to offer the most basic assistance when their children are struggling with homework.

The New Yorker

And contrary to their image as Internet pioneers with an ever-increasing market, I found porn producers just as perplexed as other media as piracy and the plummeting costs of production sucked away the sizable profits they used to enjoy.

Huffington Post

The agency was as perplexed as anybody by Mr. Oswald.

The New York Times

Lewis's ex-­girlfriend is as perplexed as Virgil by his decision to abandon the academy.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as perplexed as the" to emphasize a shared state of confusion or bewilderment, often implying a common cause or situation leading to the confusion. It effectively highlights the extent of the confusion by relating it to a specific point of reference.

Common error

Avoid using "as perplexed as the" when you only want to describe someone's confusion in isolation. Ensure there is a clear comparison being made to another person, group, or situation that is equally confused. For example, avoid saying "He was as perplexed as the..." without completing the comparison, as it leaves the sentence incomplete and unclear.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "as perplexed as the" is to act as a comparative adjective phrase. It describes a state of being confused and likens it to another person, group, or thing. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where it serves to draw parallels in states of confusion.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as perplexed as the" is a grammatically sound and neutrally-toned comparative phrase, primarily functioning to highlight a shared state of confusion. Ludwig AI identifies its prevalent use within news and media contexts, suggesting a general applicability in describing situations where multiple parties experience similar bewilderment. To ensure proper usage, remember to complete the comparison and avoid using the phrase in isolation. Consider "as confused as the" or "as bewildered as the" as alternatives to convey a similar sense of confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

equally baffled as the

Emphasizes a similar level of bewilderment, changing "perplexed" to "baffled".

just as confused as the

Replaces "perplexed" with "confused", indicating a lack of understanding.

as bewildered as the

Substitutes "perplexed" with "bewildered", suggesting a state of being completely puzzled.

as mystified as the

Uses "mystified" in place of "perplexed", implying a sense of mystery or enigma.

as puzzled as the

Replaces "perplexed" with "puzzled", indicating a state of being perplexed or confused.

as clueless as the

Uses "clueless" instead of "perplexed", suggesting a complete lack of understanding or awareness.

as flummoxed as the

Replaces "perplexed" with "flummoxed", implying a state of utter confusion and helplessness.

as disoriented as the

Substitutes "perplexed" with "disoriented", focusing on a loss of bearings or clarity.

as much in the dark as the

Replaces the entire phrase with an idiomatic expression indicating a lack of information or understanding.

none the wiser than the

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey a lack of increased understanding, contrasting with the original comparative structure.

FAQs

How can I use "as perplexed as the" in a sentence?

Use "as perplexed as the" to compare someone's confusion to that of another entity. For example: "After the sudden announcement, she was "as perplexed as the" rest of the team."

What phrases are similar to "as perplexed as the"?

Similar phrases include "as confused as the", "as bewildered as the", and "as mystified as the", all indicating a state of confusion or bewilderment.

Is it grammatically correct to say "as perplexed as the"?

Yes, "as perplexed as the" is grammatically correct when used to compare someone's level of confusion to another. It requires a completion to the comparison for clarity.

What's the difference between "as perplexed as the" and "perplexed by"?

"As perplexed as the" indicates a comparative state of confusion, while "perplexed by" simply states that someone is confused by something. For example: "She was "as perplexed as the" investigators" versus "She was perplexed by the evidence".