perplexity — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The state or quality of being perplexed.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   puzzlementbewildermentconfusion

   Examples

   There is no such thing as 'chance', which term only signifies the mind's perplexity in the face of events that spring from multiple causes.

2. Something that perplexes.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   The Emperor, who was by then a focus of unresolvable perplexities, stood providing a strongly contrary appearance.

3. A measure of the accuracy with which a probability distribution or model predicts a sample.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Noun

1. trouble or confusion resulting from complexity

   Broader terms

   confusionmental confusionconfusednessmuddinessdisarray