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Puzzle vs Maze - What's the difference?

puzzle | maze |

As nouns the difference between puzzle and maze

is that puzzle is anything that is difficult to understand or make sense of while maze is a labyrinth; a puzzle consisting of a complicated network of paths or passages, the aim of which is to find one's way.

As verbs the difference between puzzle and maze

is that puzzle is to perplex (someone) while maze is to amaze, astonish, bewilder.

puzzle

English

(wikipedia puzzle)

Noun

(en noun)
  • Anything that is difficult to understand or make sense of.
    • Where he went after he left the house is a puzzle.
  • A game for one person that is more or less difficult to work out or complete.
  • A crossword puzzle.
  • A jigsaw puzzle.
  • A riddle.
  • (archaic) Something made with marvellous skill; something of ingenious construction.
  • The state of being puzzled; perplexity.
    • to be in a puzzle

    Synonyms

    * (anything difficult to understand or make sense of ): anybody's guess, anyone's guess, conundrum, enigma, mystery * (game for one person ): brain-teaser, poser * (crossword puzzle ): crossword, crossword puzzle * (''jigsaw puzzle): jigsaw, jigsaw puzzle * (riddle ): guessing game, riddle

    Derived terms

    * Chinese puzzle * crossword puzzle * jigsaw puzzle * monkey puzzle * puzzle out * puzzle over * puzzled * puzzlement * puzzler * puzzling

    Verb

    (puzzl)
  • (label) To perplex (someone).
  • * (Henry More) (1614-1687)
    • A very shrewd disputant in those points is dexterous in puzzling others, if they be not thoroughpaced speculators in those great theories.
  • * (Joseph Addison) (1672-1719)
    • He is perpetually puzzled and perplexed amidst his own blunders.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1927, author= F. E. Penny
    • , chapter=4, title= Pulling the Strings , passage=The case was that of a murder. It had an element of mystery about it, however, which was puzzling the authorities. A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff.}}
  • To make intricate; to entangle.
  • * (Joseph Addison) (1672-1719)
    • The ways of Heaven are dark and intricate, / Puzzled in mazes, and perplexed with error.
  • * (William Cowper) (1731-1800)
    • They disentangle from the puzzled skein.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * puzzled * puzzle out * puzzle over * puzzle through * puzzler * puzzling

    Related terms

    * puzzlement

    References

    ----

    maze

    English

    (wikipedia maze)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A labyrinth; a puzzle consisting of a complicated network of paths or passages, the aim of which is to find one's way.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=May 30 , author=Hayley Spurway , title=Top 10 family days out in south Devon , work=the Guardian citation , page= , passage=There's plenty for toddlers too: experience the Wild West in Bear City, play with sand diggers, splash in the paddling pool and discover meerkats, reptiles and alpacas in the Zoo-Farm. Rain doesn't stop play, just head for the indoor fun factory with a rocking and rolling tugboat, mirror maze , ferris wheel and soft play. }}
  • Something made up of many confused or conflicting elements; a tangle.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1907, author=
    • , title=The Dust of Conflict , chapter=1 citation , passage=A beech wood with silver firs in it rolled down the face of the hill, and the maze of leafless twigs and dusky spires cut sharp against the soft blueness of the evening sky.}}
  • *
  • Confusion of thought; perplexity; uncertainty; state of bewilderment.
  • *

    • Derived terms

    (terms derived from maze) * logic maze * mazed * mazelike * mazey * mazy * mizmaze * Morris water maze * radiation maze * turf maze

    Verb

    (maz)
  • to amaze, astonish, bewilder
    • (South)
  • to daze, stupefy, or confuse