Word
mystified
Phoneticsmys·ti·fied, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmɪstəˌfaɪd/
UK/mˈɪstɪfˌaɪd/
Definition
adj. feeling very confused because you cannot understand or explain something.
adj. greatly puzzled or confused by something difficult to explain or understand. Often follows a linking verb such as 'be', 'feel', or 'seem' to describe a person's reaction.
Examples
“I feel mystified by the new rules.”
“The family was mystified when their keys kept disappearing from the locked drawer.”
“Mystified by the sudden silence from her longtime friend, she reread their last messages for any hidden offence.”
Examples
simple
“I feel mystified by the new rules.”
contextual
“The family was mystified when their keys kept disappearing from the locked drawer.”
complex
“Mystified by the sudden silence from her longtime friend, she reread their last messages for any hidden offence.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “mystified” in context.
Verb
01. feel mystified
“I felt mystified by the complex rules of the new game.”
verb + adj
02. leave mystified
“The final twist in the film left us all mystified.”
verb + adj
03. look mystified
“The students looked mystified when the teacher spoke only in French.”
verb + adj
04. mystified at
“She felt mystified at the strange silence from the office.”
adj + prep
05. mystified by
“They were mystified by his sudden decision to resign.”
adj + prep
Adjective
06. completely mystified
“We were completely mystified by the sudden cancellation of the flight.”
adv + adj
07. genuinely mystified
“She was genuinely mystified as to why nobody had replied to her email.”
adv + adj
Noun
08. mystified expression
“He stared at the map with a mystified expression on his face.”
adj + noun
09. mystified face
“She looked up with a mystified face and asked what had happened.”
adj + noun
10. be totally mystified by
“We were totally mystified by the error message on the screen.”
11. leave someone completely mystified
“The magician's final trick left the whole audience completely mystified.”
12. look utterly mystified by
“He looked utterly mystified by the question in the interview.”
Usage
Typically follows a linking verb such as 'be', 'feel', or 'seem'.
Real-World Examples
“Crawford is mystified by Houston’s marriage to singer Bobby Brown (she says it was like watching a foreign film without subtitles), but Lordi sees them united by showmanship and traditional values.” “A man aged 82 is facing a life sentence in prison in Germany, after going on trial and admitting to a murder that mystified the city of Koblenz for almost 32 years.” “American intelligence officials have found no evidence that aerial phenomena witnessed by Navy pilots in recent years are alien spacecraft, but they still cannot explain the unusual movements that have mystified scientists and the military, according to senior administration officials briefed on the findings of a highly anticipated government report.” “Several of Joseph's relatives and friends said they were mystified about why Joseph, who could not swim and was afraid of the water, ended up in the river.” Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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