it was perplexing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was perplexing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation, event, or concept that is confusing or difficult to understand. Example: "The sudden change in the project's direction was perplexing to the entire team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

The bombing was as deadly as it was perplexing.

The New York Times

"It was perplexing to see gene flow in the opposite direction," Siepel said.

The Washington Post

Juan Mata was so prominently involved it was perplexing that Van Gaal should substitute him.

The Guardian - Sport

Chris Smalling's improvement has been vast but it was perplexing that he was voted as man of the match.

The Guardian - Sport

If it was perplexing to be moved by these movies while acknowledging their contextual dishonesty, that dishonesty was how they managed to function at all.

The New York Times - Magazine

Maybe, in hindsight, Pellegrini will regret not starting Nicolás Otamendi in defence and, likewise, it was perplexing that he left out Fernandinho in favour of the inferior Fernando.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

But it is perplexing that the State Department would choose to beat up its relief recipient while Haiti is down for the count.

Huffington Post

It's perplexing.

The New York Times

It is perplexing.

The Guardian

She is, I think, but it's perplexing.

Independent

It's perplexing measured against what voters hoped for.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for formal writing, consider using "it was perplexing" to introduce a contrasting viewpoint or unexpected outcome in an argument.

Common error

Avoid using "it was perplexing" to describe severe or tragic events where stronger terms like "shocking" or "devastating" are more appropriate. "Perplexing" suggests confusion, not necessarily horror or sadness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was perplexing" functions as an evaluative statement, expressing a subjective reaction of confusion or lack of understanding regarding a past event or situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Sport

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was perplexing" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe past situations that caused confusion or bewilderment. As Ludwig AI confirms, its meaning is clear and its usage is varied across contexts such as news, sports, and science. While "uncommon" in overall frequency, it serves to introduce analysis of unexpected outcomes. When choosing alternative phrases, consider nuances in meaning, such as "it was baffling" (stronger sense of being unable to understand) or "it was puzzling" (presenting a problem to be solved). Avoid using this phrase for situations invoking strong negative emotions better suited for more severe terms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was baffling

Replaces "perplexing" with "baffling", suggesting a slightly stronger sense of being unable to understand something.

it was puzzling

Substitutes "perplexing" with "puzzling", indicating something that presents a problem to be solved or understood.

it was confusing

Replaces "perplexing" with "confusing", focusing on the lack of clarity and potential for misunderstanding.

it was mystifying

Substitutes "perplexing" with "mystifying", implying an element of mystery or something beyond ordinary understanding.

it was enigmatic

Replaces "perplexing" with "enigmatic", suggesting something deliberately obscure or difficult to interpret.

it was incomprehensible

Replaces "perplexing" with "incomprehensible", emphasizing the inability to grasp the meaning or significance of something.

it was unfathomable

Substitutes "perplexing" with "unfathomable", highlighting the depth of the difficulty in understanding.

it defied understanding

Rephrases the idea to emphasize the resistance of the subject to being understood.

it was beyond comprehension

Emphasizes the impossibility of understanding something due to its complexity or strangeness.

the situation was bewildering

Changes the sentence structure to focus on the situation as the cause of bewilderment.

FAQs

What does "it was perplexing" mean?

The phrase "it was perplexing" means something was confusing or difficult to understand. It expresses a sense of mild bewilderment.

How can I use "it was perplexing" in a sentence?

You can use "it was perplexing" to describe a situation, event, or idea that you find difficult to understand. For example, "It was perplexing that he left without saying goodbye".

What can I say instead of "it was perplexing"?

You can use alternatives like "it was baffling", "it was puzzling", or "it was confusing" depending on the context.

Is "it is perplexing" the same as "it was perplexing"?

"It is perplexing" describes something currently causing confusion, while "it was perplexing" describes something that caused confusion in the past. The difference is in the tense.