confound

verb

con·​found kən-ˈfau̇nd How to pronounce confound (audio)
kän-
confounded; confounding; confounds

transitive verb

1
: to throw (a person) into confusion or perplexity
tactics to confound the enemy
2
a
: refute
sought to confound his arguments
b
: to put to shame : discomfit
a performance that confounded the critics
3
: damn
4
a
: to fail to discern differences between : mix up
They implored Charles not to confound the innocent with the guilty …T. B. Macaulay
b
: to increase the confusion of
5
a
: baffle, frustrate
Conferences … are not for accomplishment but to confound knavish tricks.John Kenneth Galbraith
b
archaic : to bring to ruin : destroy
6
obsolete : consume, waste
confounder noun
confoundingly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for confound

puzzle, perplex, bewilder, distract, nonplus, confound, dumbfound mean to baffle and disturb mentally.

puzzle implies existence of a problem difficult to solve.

the persistent fever puzzled the doctor

perplex adds a suggestion of worry and uncertainty especially about making a necessary decision.

a behavior that perplexed her friends

bewilder stresses a confusion of mind that hampers clear and decisive thinking.

a bewildering number of possibilities

distract implies agitation or uncertainty induced by conflicting preoccupations or interests.

distracted by personal problems

nonplus implies a bafflement that makes orderly planning or deciding impossible.

the remark left us utterly nonplussed

confound implies temporary mental paralysis caused by astonishment or profound abasement.

the tragic news confounded us all

dumbfound suggests intense but momentary confounding; often the idea of astonishment is so stressed that it becomes a near synonym of astound.

was at first too dumbfounded to reply

Examples of confound in a Sentence

The strategy confounded our opponents. The murder case has confounded investigators. The school's team confounded all predictions and won the game. The success of the show confounded critics.
Recent Examples on the Web Years after Trump ascended to political power and started drowning the political discourse in dangerous lies and conspiracy theories, news executives remain confounded on the most effective approach to combat the deceit. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 But Sora clearly is confounded by how to light a cigarette. Tyler Remmel, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 Coming after some of his most radio-friendly records, like Rock N Roll Animal and Sally Can’t Dance, Metal Machine Music was utterly confounding, then and now. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024 That finding may be confounded by underlying demographic characteristics among MA enrollees. Deb Gordon, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 The problem of gun violence has long confounded local leaders and law enforcement. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 15 Feb. 2024 The arrangement is a confounding mystery, especially, to Inguk’s mother — who voices her bewilderment at this opaque Frenchwoman with a directness that everyone else politely avoids. Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Feb. 2024 During her lifetime, Hogarth’s confounding allegiances were a frequent subject of public speculation and ridicule. Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024 That allowed her team to better adjust for potential confounding factors that could affect either erectile dysfunction or Alzheimer’s risk, such as smoking, alcohol use, and other health conditions. TIME, 7 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'confound.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English confounden "to defeat, destroy, frustrate, bewilder," borrowed from Anglo-French confondre, going back to Latin confundere "to pour together, blend, bring into disorder, destroy, disconcert," from con- con- + fundere "to pour, shed" — more at found entry 5

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5b

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

Dictionary Entries Near confound

Cite this Entry

“Confound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confound. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

confound

verb
con·​found kən-ˈfau̇nd How to pronounce confound (audio)
kän-
1
2
: to throw into disorder : mix up : confuse
our clever tactics confounded our opponents
confoundedly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on confound

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!