perplexed

/pɚˈplɛkst/

//pɚˈplɛkst// adj

"perplexed" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“perplexed” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #27,242 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#27,242
frequency rank, English
9
letters
14
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Confused or puzzled.

Key facts for perplexed
PropertyValue
Headwordperplexed
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/pɚˈplɛkst/
Letters9
Frequency rank#27,242
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “perplexed” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). perplexed lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for perplexed is 9 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /pɚˈplɛkst/. Corpus data places it at rank #27,242 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for perplexed, with forms such as "eprplexed", "peprlexed", and "perlpexed". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

This entry's etymology isn't recorded, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct English form is perplexed, spelled P-E-R-P-L-E-X-E-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    Confused or puzzled.
  2. 2
    Bewildered.
  3. 3
    Entangled; labyrinthine.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: eprplexed,peprlexed,perlpexed,perpelxed,perpleexd,perplexde,perplexedd,perplexxed,perpllexed,perplxeed,perpplexed,perrplexed,pperplexed,preplexed

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of perplexed - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

eprplexed2peprlexed2perlpexed2perpelxed2perpleexd2perplexde2perplexedd1perplexxed1
Edit distance from "perplexed"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "perplexed"?
"perplexed" is spelled P-E-R-P-L-E-X-E-D. The IPA pronunciation is /pɚˈplɛkst/.
What does "perplexed" mean?
As an adjective, "perplexed" means: Confused or puzzled.
What are common misspellings of "perplexed"?
Common misspellings include "eprplexed", "peprlexed", "perlpexed", "perpelxed", "perpleexd". The correct spelling is "perplexed".
How do you pronounce "perplexed"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "perplexed" is /pɚˈplɛkst/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "perplexed" come from?
"perplexed" is a English word. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for this and other words across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German on PlainSpell.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “perplexed”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is P-E-R-P-L-E-X-E-D - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /pɚˈplɛkst/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list