rather perplexed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather perplexed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a feeling of confusion or bewilderment about a situation or information. Example: "After hearing the unexpected news, I was left rather perplexed about what to do next."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

He retired before the hour rather perplexed by it all.

The Guardian - Sport

"I was rather perplexed when I was small, and at one point I did not want to train," he said Tuesday night.

The New York Times - Sports

Google's executive chairman, Eric Schmidt, did not help matters further in May last year by defending the tax evasion - stating that he was "rather perplexed" by the whole uproar.

Independent

The manager has cut a rather perplexed figure throughout, baffled that so many of those players upon whom he had relied so heavily have suddenly been rendered fragile, even diminished, by shoddy collective form.

The Guardian - Sport

The dorm is open to students from City College as well as from other colleges in the area, and many of the building's new residents were rather perplexed that the news media had decided to cover their morning move-in.

The New York Times

Millett, a radical spirit herself, was the subject of a rather perplexed profile in Time, in 1970, which discerned her relevance without having the vision necessary to measure her significance.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Posing the same question to a French colleague elicited a genuinely perplexed rather than amused response.

The Guardian

Granger was bland rather than urbane, perplexed rather than intimidated, and despite charm, good looks and an attractive voice, he found his career not taking off.

The Guardian - Film

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

They emerge, looking understandably perplexed and rather worse for wear, in a late 20th-century metropolis.

The Guardian - Film

Nevertheless, it should be noted that the assay can measure death by cell lysis, rather than the more perplexed mechanistically apoptotic cell death, which would be beyond the scope of the present study.

BMC Oral Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather perplexed" to convey a sense of mild to moderate confusion, particularly when something is unexpected or doesn't quite make sense. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "rather perplexed" is acceptable, overuse can make writing sound repetitive. In formal contexts, consider stronger synonyms like "bewildered" or "disconcerted" for greater impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather perplexed" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying a subject's state of mind. It indicates a feeling of mild confusion or bewilderment. Ludwig shows examples where individuals or entities are "rather perplexed" by unexpected events or confusing information.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rather perplexed" is a useful way to express mild to moderate confusion or bewilderment. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news and media contexts. While it is versatile, it's essential to consider the specific context and audience when choosing this phrase. More formal situations might benefit from stronger synonyms like "bewildered" or "disconcerted". The phrase functions as an adjective phrase that communicates the subject’s moderate confusion. Overall, "rather perplexed" is a reliable and versatile way to convey a sense of puzzlement without indicating complete disorientation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat confused

Replaces "rather" with "somewhat", indicating a slightly lower degree of perplexity.

a bit baffled

Substitutes "perplexed" with "baffled" and "rather" with "a bit", offering a more informal tone.

slightly puzzled

Uses "puzzled" instead of "perplexed" and "slightly" for "rather", suggesting a mild level of confusion.

mildly bewildered

Replaces "perplexed" with "bewildered" and "rather" with "mildly", indicating a gentle state of puzzlement.

somewhat mystified

Uses "mystified" instead of "perplexed", implying a sense of mystery adding to the confusion.

quite disoriented

Replaces "perplexed" with "disoriented" and "rather" with "quite", focusing on a sense of losing bearings or understanding.

noticeably confused

Emphasizes the outward appearance of confusion, making it more observable.

visibly puzzled

Similar to "noticeably confused", but specifically indicates that the confusion is apparent in one's expression or demeanor.

plainly baffled

Highlights that the confusion is straightforward and evident.

genuinely confused

Emphasizes the sincerity and authenticity of the confusion.

FAQs

How can I use "rather perplexed" in a sentence?

You can use "rather perplexed" to describe a state of mild confusion or bewilderment. For example, "After reading the instructions, I was "rather perplexed" about the next step".

What's a more formal alternative to "rather perplexed"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "somewhat bewildered" or "mildly disoriented" to convey a similar sense of confusion with a slightly elevated tone.

Is "rather perplexed" suitable for academic writing?

"Rather perplexed" is generally acceptable, but for academic writing, more precise or stronger terms like "puzzled", "baffled", or "mystified" may be more effective in conveying specific nuances of confusion.

What's the difference between "rather perplexed" and "completely baffled"?

"Rather perplexed" indicates a moderate level of confusion, while "completely baffled" suggests a total lack of understanding. The choice depends on the intensity of the confusion you want to express.