mystify
gb/mˈɪstəfˌaɪ/ us/mˈɪstəfˌaɪ/
C1
English
összezavar, zavarba ejt, elködösít, érthetetlenné tesz
VERB
C1
1
összezavar
B1
zavarba ejt
B2
Usage pattern:
mystify [someone] (with/by [something])
The sudden drop in sales mystified the whole team.
Az eladások hirtelen visszaesése összezavarta az egész csapatot.
Her reaction mystified me—I thought she’d be pleased.
Összezavart a reakciója — azt hittem, örülni fog.
The instructions mystified him, so he asked for help.
Learner examples
This question mystifies me.
Ez a kérdés zavarba ejt.
The map mystified us.
A térkép összezavart minket.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse mystified (confused) with mysterious (strange or unknown).
Meaning
confuse someone completely
Collocations
mystify the audience
|mystify readers
|mystify viewers
|mystify the police
|mystify scientists
|mystify customers
|mystify voters
|completely mystify
|mystify someone with jargon
|mystify someone by changing the rules
Synonyms
confuse (More general and common.)
|
puzzle (Suggests the person is trying to understand.)
|
baffle (Stronger; suggests total inability to understand.)
Antonyms
clarify (Makes something easier to understand.)
|
explain (Gives reasons or details so it becomes clear.)
Themes
communication
|thinking
|emotions
Definition
To make someone feel confused because they do not understand.
To confuse someone so that they cannot understand something or explain what is happening.
VERB
C1
2
elködösít
C1
Usage pattern:
mystify [something] (for [someone])
Some legal documents mystify a straightforward issue with needless jargon.
Némely jogi dokumentum fölösleges szakzsargonnal elködösít egy egyszerű kérdést.
He tried to mystify the explanation so no one would question his numbers.
Megpróbálta elködösíteni a magyarázatot, hogy senki se kérdőjelezze meg a számait.
The speaker mystified the topic instead of making it clearer.
Learner examples
Please don’t mystify it—explain it simply.
Kérlek, ne ködösítsd el — magyarázd el egyszerűen.
Jargon can mystify new learners.
A zsargon könnyen érthetetlenné teheti a dolgokat az új tanulók számára.
Common mistake:
In this sense, mystify is about making the subject unclear (not about creating real mystery or magic).
Meaning
make something harder to understand
Collocations
mystify the process
|mystify the issue
|mystify the subject
|mystify the debate
|mystify a simple idea
|mystify the public
|mystify the facts
|deliberately mystify
|mystify through technical language
|mystify with complex explanations
Synonyms
obscure (Emphasizes hiding or blocking understanding.)
|
complicate (Emphasizes making something more complex than it needs to be.)
|
muddy (Informal; emphasizes making something less clear.)
Antonyms
simplify (Makes something easier to understand.)
|
demystify (Explains something so it seems less mysterious or complex.)
Themes
communication
|education
|media
Definition
To make something difficult to understand by making it seem complicated or secret.
To make something seem mysterious or unclear, especially by using complicated language or unnecessary details.
Grammar
Dictionary form
mystify
IPA
GB/mˈɪstəfˌaɪ/
US/mˈɪstəfˌaɪ/
Syllables & stress
mys - ti - fy (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mys)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: mystify
- 3rd Person Singular: mystifies
- Present Participle: mystifying
- Past: mystified
Word family
Forms
mystifies
verb
mystifying
verb
mystified
verb
Core family
Related words
mystification
noun
mystical
adjective B2
Negative and opposite forms
demystify
verb C1
Advanced or less common
demystification
noun C1
mysticism
noun
Expressions
be mystified (by/at [something])
1/bˈi mˈɪstəfˌaɪd bˈaɪət sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
be very confused
To not understand something and feel confused.
Examples
- I was mystified by the final scene of the film.
- She seemed mystified at his sudden apology.
- They were mystified by how the data disappeared.
Learner examples
- I am mystified by this rule.
- He was mystified at her answer.
mystify the issue/matter
1/mˈɪstəfˌaɪ ðə ɪsˈʊmətɚ/
fixed phrase
make a problem less clear
To make a problem more confusing.
Examples
- The report mystified the issue instead of addressing it clearly.
- Don’t mystify the matter—tell us what changed.
- The spokesperson mystified the issue with vague answers.
Learner examples
- He mystified the issue with long explanations.