mystify
/'mistifai/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To make something mysterious or difficult to understand: To deliberately obscure the meaning or explanation of something, making it puzzling.
- To perplex or bewilder someone: To cause someone to feel confused or puzzled because they cannot understand something.
Examples of Usage
- Verb:
- The magician's trick was designed to mystify the audience. (The magician's trick was intended to make the audience bewildered.)
- The ancient symbols on the wall continue to mystify archaeologists. (The ancient symbols on the wall continue to perplex archaeologists.)
- He tried to mystify his past, giving conflicting stories about his childhood. (He attempted to make his past mysterious by giving conflicting accounts.)
Advanced Usage
- "to be mystified by": to be completely puzzled or bewildered by something.
- I am utterly mystified by his sudden change of heart. (I am completely bewildered by his sudden change of heart.)
- "to mystify the issue": to deliberately complicate or obscure a topic, making it harder to understand.
- The politician's vague answers only served to mystify the issue further. (The politician's vague answers only succeeded in making the topic more confusing.)
Variants and Related Words
- Mystification (n): The state of being mystified; the act of mystifying.
- The instructions caused great mystification among the users. (The instructions caused great confusion among the users.)
- Mystifying (adj): Causing bewilderment; puzzling.
- The lack of evidence is the most mystifying aspect of the case. (The lack of evidence is the most puzzling aspect of the case.)
- Demystify (v): To make something easier to understand; to clarify.
- The course aims to demystify the principles of quantum physics. (The course aims to clarify the principles of quantum physics.)
Synonyms
- Bewilder: To cause someone to become perplexed and confused.
- Perplex: To make someone feel completely baffled.
- Baffle: To frustrate or confuse someone; to be too difficult to understand.
- Confound: To cause surprise or confusion, often by acting against expectations.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions
(Note: "Mystify" is not commonly used in standard phrasal verb constructions. Its meaning is typically conveyed directly.)
Related Idioms
- To be a mystery wrapped in an enigma: (While not containing "mystify," this idiom describes something profoundly mystifying.) Something extremely puzzling and difficult to understand.
- His true motives remain a mystery wrapped in an enigma. (His true motives remain profoundly puzzling.)
Verb
- make mysterious
- mystify the story
- be a mystery or bewildering to
- This beats me!
- Got me--I don't know the answer!
- a vexing problem
- This question really stuck me