Mystifying: meaning, definitions and examples

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mystifying

 

[หˆmษชstษชfaษชษชล‹ ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

feeling

causing confusion or bewilderment; perplexing

Synonyms

confusing, perplexing, puzzling.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
mystifying

Used when something is deeply enigmatic or hard to understand, often invoking a sense of wonder or intrigue.

  • His disappearance from the locked room was utterly mystifying
  • The magician's tricks were so mystifying that no one could figure them out
puzzling

Used when something is confusing in a way that makes you think carefully about it, often involving a problem or situation that requires a solution.

  • The riddle was so puzzling that it took him hours to solve
  • The strange noise in the house at night was puzzling them
perplexing

Used when something is hard to comprehend and causes someone to feel puzzled or baffled, often implying complexity.

  • The scientist posed a perplexing question that had everyone scratching their heads
  • The sudden change in weather patterns was perplexing to the meteorologists
confusing

Used when something is unclear, hard to follow, or causes uncertainty. It implies a lack of clarity or simplicity.

  • The instructions for assembling the furniture were very confusing
  • His sudden change in attitude was confusing to everyone

Examples of usage

  • The magician's mystifying tricks left the audience in awe.
  • The mystifying disappearance of the treasure baffled the investigators.
  • The cryptic message was mystifying to decipher.
Context #2 | Verb

action

to perplex or bewilder someone

Synonyms

baffle, bewilder, confound.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
mystifying

Use when something is puzzling or hard to understand, usually in a more mysterious or intriguing way.

  • The ancient symbols on the wall were mystifying to the archaeologists
baffle

Useful when describing a situation where something is so confusing that it leaves one unable to understand or solve a problem.

  • The complex math problem baffled all the students in the class
confound

Typically used when something causes confusion by challenging expectations or conventional thinking, often with a surprising or unexpected outcome.

  • The magician's trick confounded the audience, leaving them questioning reality
bewilder

Use when something causes someone to be deeply confused or perplexed, often in a more emotional or psychological way.

  • The sudden change in his behavior completely bewildered his friends

Examples of usage

  • The complex puzzle mystified the participants.
  • His behavior continues to mystify me.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word comes from the Greek word 'mystikos' meaning 'sacred' or 'mysterious'.
  • It evolved through the Latin 'mystificare', which means to make something mysterious.
  • The use of 'mystifying' in English dates back to the 19th century.

Psychology

  • People are often drawn to mystifying experiences because they stimulate curiosity and creative thinking.
  • Research suggests that encountering the unknown can trigger a profound emotional response, activating areas of the brain related to desire and reward.
  • A sense of the mystifying can lead to both stress and fascination, influencing one's outlook on life.

Pop Culture

  • Mystifying plots and twists are popular in movies and books, capturing audience attention and sparking discussions.
  • Magicians often mystify audiences with illusions that challenge perception and reality.
  • Mystifying artwork, like surrealism, immerses viewers in dream-like scenes that evoke wonder and questioning.

Science

  • Mystifying concepts in science, such as black holes, leave researchers contemplating the very fabric of our universe.
  • Quantum mechanics presents a mystifying reality where particles can exist in multiple states at once.
  • The mysteries of deep-sea creatures and their bioluminescence continue to baffle scientists.

Literature

  • Many classic novels hinge on mystifying mysteries, compelling readers to piece together clues.
  • Symbolism in poetry often creates mystifying layers of meaning, inviting multiple interpretations.
  • Literary genres like gothic fiction thrive on mystifying elements, combining suspense with the supernatural.

Translations

Translations of the word "mystifying" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น misterioso

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฐเคนเคธเฅเคฏเคฎเคฏ (rahasyamay)

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช geheimnisvoll

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ misterius

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะทะฐะณะฐะดะบะพะฒะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ tajemniczy

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ็ฅž็ง˜็š„ใช (shinpitekina)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท mystรฉrieux

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ misterioso

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท gizemli

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์‹ ๋น„๋กœ์šด (sinbiroun)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุบุงู…ุถ (ghamid)

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ tajemnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ tajomnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ็ฅž็ง˜็š„ (shรฉnmรฌ de)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ skrivnosten

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ dularfullur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›าฑะฟะธัะปั‹

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒกแƒแƒ˜แƒ“แƒฃแƒ›แƒšแƒ (saidumlo)

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ sirli

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ misterioso

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,647, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.