confuse

verb

con·​fuse kən-ˈfyüz How to pronounce confuse (audio)
confused; confusing
Synonyms of confuse

transitive verb

1
: to disturb in mind or purpose : throw off
The directions she gave confused us.
2
a
: to make indistinct : blur
Stop confusing the issue.
b
: to fail to differentiate from an often similar or related other
confuse money with comfort
Do not confuse the words "flaunt" and "flout."
c
: to mix indiscriminately : jumble
Their arms, legs, and bodies were confused together, till they resembled … two serpents interlaced.—Thomas Medwin
3
: to make embarrassed : abash
4
archaic : to bring to ruin
confusingly
kən-ˈfyü-ziŋ-lē How to pronounce confuse (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of confuse

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Examples of confuse in a Sentence

The general was trying to confuse the enemy. The new evidence only confused matters further. You must be confusing me with someone else.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Soon, the highway cuts through miles of gray and white volcanic pumice and ash, creating a lunar-like landscape that manages to confuse the visual senses. — Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026 Snell-Rood said with long-term exposure, the human body can confuse lead with calcium and store it in the bones. — CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 The New York Times published a report earlier Wednesday saying the Peltola campaign coordinated with Democratic operatives to recruit a second Dan Sullivan to be on the Senate ballot to deliberately confuse voters. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026 His campaign said the text messages were misleading and meant to confuse voters. — Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for confuse

Word History

Etymology

Middle English confusen, back-formation from confused "frustrated, ruined," participle based on Anglo-French confus, borrowed from Latin confūsus, past participle of confundere "to pour together, blend, bring into disorder, destroy, disconcert" — more at confound

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Time Traveler
The first known use of confuse was in the 14th century

Rhymes for confuse

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Browse Nearby Words

confusable
confuse
confused
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confuse. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

confuse

verb
con·​fuse kən-ˈfyüz How to pronounce confuse (audio)
confused; confusing
1
a
: to make mentally foggy or uncertain : perplex
the complicated problem confused us
b
: to cause to be embarrassed or upset
2
: to make unclear : blur
stop confusing the issue
3
: to make disordered : jumble
the cords were all confused together
4
: to fail to tell apart
teachers always confused the twins
confusedly
-ˈfyüz(-ə)d-lē
adverb
confusingly
-ˈfyü-ziŋ-lē How to pronounce confuse (audio)
adverb
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