perplexing answer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "perplexing answer" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an answer that is confusing or difficult to understand. Example: "After reviewing the data, I received a perplexing answer that left me with more questions than before."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

You asked it a straightforward question and you get what seems to be a perplexing answer.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It took me a while to understand how factories do it, and why I was regularly getting perplexing answers from workers.

The New York Times

(That today's trendy attire can become tomorrow's thrift-store stock is one of fashion's most perplexing puzzles) That answer – the holy grail for buyers, designers and fashion forecasters is a messy mashup of psychology, economics and backstage manipulations.

Los Angeles Times

A MYSTERIOUS decline in the numbers of spawning salmon has become one of the rites of autumn in British Columbia, bringing worries of financial and job losses, threats of extinction and a perplexing lack of answers.

The Economist

And that gray area may help answer a perplexing question: Why didn't WorldCom's chief executive sell before the stock collapsed?

The New York Times

The panel's conversation sounded, at times, like a murder mystery, with all four panelists trying to answer one perplexing riddle: Now that the markets have recovered from the lows of 2008 and 2009, why aren't more mergers and acquisitions being done?

The New York Times

For Ian Barbour, the deadly possibilities of the Atomic Age raised questions that science couldn't answer — a perplexing situation for a young physicist after World War II.

Los Angeles Times

As much as this very perplexing question demands an answer, the greater curiosity has to be the widowed's reactions to such treatment.

Huffington Post

The results of this population-based registry study cannot definitively answer these perplexing questions, but at least in stage 1 disease, a differential tumor biology appears unlikely.

BMC Cancer

Here, a few answers to perplexing questions.

The New York Times

Danny Pearl's child should know this: His father represented the very finest of his profession -- an inquisitive journalist, the eyes and ears of his readers, looking for answers to perplexing questions in hopes of helping us all make a little more sense of the world.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "perplexing answer", ensure the context clearly indicates what makes the answer confusing or difficult to understand. Providing specific examples or elaborating on the confusion can enhance clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "perplexing answer" when the issue is not the answer itself, but the question. Ensure the answer is genuinely confusing, rather than simply a response to a poorly formulated question.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "perplexing answer" functions as an adjective-noun combination. The adjective "perplexing" modifies the noun "answer", indicating a quality of the answer being confusing or difficult to understand. Ludwig identifies this phrase as usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "perplexing answer" effectively describes a response that is confusing or difficult to understand. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is usable in written English and serves to highlight the lack of clarity in a given response. While not exceedingly common, its use is appropriate across various contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and wiki-based content. When using the phrase, ensure the context clarifies what makes the "perplexing answer" confusing. Alternatives like "confusing explanation" or "puzzling response" can be considered to add nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

puzzling response

Replaces 'answer' with 'response', implying a reaction or reply that causes confusion.

confusing explanation

Substitutes 'answer' with 'explanation', focusing on the clarity of the information provided.

unclear solution

Replaces 'answer' with 'solution', suggesting a resolution that lacks clarity.

enigmatic reply

Uses 'enigmatic' to intensify the sense of mystery and 'reply' for a formal response.

mystifying resolution

Emphasizes the mysterious nature of the answer by using 'mystifying'.

incomprehensible response

Highlights the inability to understand the answer due to its complexity.

baffling explanation

Uses 'baffling' to denote that the answer is confusing and hard to grasp.

bewildering solution

Implies that the solution is disorienting or confusing.

obscure response

Indicates that the answer is vague or not easily understood.

ambiguous explanation

Focuses on the lack of clarity in the provided explanation.

FAQs

How can I use "perplexing answer" in a sentence?

You can use "perplexing answer" to describe a response that is confusing or hard to understand. For example: "The scientist's explanation was a "perplexing answer" that left the audience even more confused."

What are some alternatives to "perplexing answer"?

Alternatives include "confusing explanation", "puzzling response", or "unclear solution", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "perplexing answer" or "confused answer"?

"Perplexing answer" describes an answer that is inherently difficult to understand. "Confused answer" suggests the person providing the answer is confused. The correct choice depends on the source of the confusion.

What makes an answer "perplexing"?

An answer may be "perplexing" due to its complexity, ambiguity, or contradiction of expected information. It often leaves the recipient with more questions than answers.