confuse

verb

kən-ˈfyüz How to pronounce confuse (audio)
Definition of confusenext
1
as in to bewilder
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty the similar-sounding words "censure" and "censor" often confuse people

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to complicate
to make (something) unclear to the understanding stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to mistake
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related a lot of people confuse popular fame with enduring achievement

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4
as in to embarrass
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress she was confused by the shocking bluntness of his marriage proposal

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of vandals had hopelessly confused the papers in the office files

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of confuse Many attendees in the chambers appeared shocked and confused at the proposal for the new ordinance. — Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 The spoiler candidate also had the last name Rodriguez, confusing voters. — Emily L. Mahoney, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026 Ureaplasma is frequently confused with or misdiagnosed as Interstitial Cystitis (IC), sending patients down a very different treatment path. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026 The sticker price of an iPhone might be confused with that of a luxury watch. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for confuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
  1. bewilder
  2. complicate
  3. mistake
  4. embarrass
  5. disrupt
  6. perplex
  7. blur
  8. fluster
Verb
  • Many Eagles players were concerned and bewildered by the development.
    — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Latif is conflicted by his double life, bewildered by his doubling of parental responsibilities, constantly trying to think two moves ahead yet always ending up three steps behind.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of bewilder
Verb
  • Rescue operations were complicated, with police firing tear gas at people who had begun looting neighboring shops, as officers sought to clear the area and provide access to emergency response teams.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Rain that turned into the season's first significant snow, accompanied by strong wind, complicated the already difficult task of tackling the blaze and firefighters had to pull out overnight after several hours, officials said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of complicate
Verb
  • Some health officials worry they can be mistaken by young consumers for candy or gum.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • But Pawn Shop is considerably harder to mistake for just another acting job.
    — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of mistake
Verb
  • Chicago embarrassed Philadelphia, while the Eagles squandered a late lead against the Rams before suffering an improbable loss to the Jaguars in London.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The Longhorns’ offense scored 17 points against a Florida defense that Missouri and South Carolina embarrassed.
    — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of embarrass
Verb
  • Sectarian tensions and the disrupting force of the Cold War plunged the Middle Eastern nation into decades of armed conflict, with a chilling effect on daily life.
    — Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The team radio can disrupt Antonelli’s concentration, so Wolff told me that the engineers have learned how to use it less often, or with fewer words.
    — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of disrupt
Verb
  • At Telluride, Fielder, who had initially planned to stay behind the scenes, admitted he was still perplexed by the couple’s openness.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • They were perplexed at first, flummoxed, but pleasant, and unfortunately for them, already long gone from the airport.
    — Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of perplex
Verb
  • Scientists have been able to measure quantum effects in larger and more complex systems and over great distances, blurring the line once thought to separate the scale of observer and observed.
    — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The distinction between entertainment platforms and traditional media is becoming increasingly blurred.
    — Victoria Usher, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of blur
Verb
  • That smothering defense flustered the Valkyries into committing 19 turnovers that led to 24 points for Atlanta.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Milwaukee tends to fluster opponents by dictating the action in a way no other offense does.
    — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of fluster

Browse Nearby Words

confronts
confuse
confused
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Cite this Entry

“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuse. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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