confused; confusing
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
Thomas Medwin3
: to make embarrassed : abash
4
archaic
: to bring to ruin
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
The competing corridors have left shippers confused, forcing vessels to navigate threats from sea mines, aerial drones and IRGC patrol boats.
—
Xiaoqian Lin,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
These opportunists drown out the core mission, creating a cacophony of competing voices that confuses donors, crowd the inboxes of CEOs and members of Congress with colliding petitions, and paralyzes meaningful action by draining critical funding and attention away from the truly effective groups.
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
28 June 2026
Some of you may notice that income streams are shifting, checks are being delayed or there are confusing charges on your accounts.
—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
28 June 2026
As questions have been put to Farage about the generous gift from Harborne, his characterizations of its purpose have been confusing at best and contradictory at worst.
—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for confuse
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show current usage.
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Xiaoqian Lin,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
These opportunists drown out the core mission, creating a cacophony of competing voices that confuses donors, crowd the inboxes of CEOs and members of Congress with colliding petitions, and paralyzes meaningful action by draining critical funding and attention away from the truly effective groups.
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
28 June 2026
Some of you may notice that income streams are shifting, checks are being delayed or there are confusing charges on your accounts.
—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
28 June 2026
As questions have been put to Farage about the generous gift from Harborne, his characterizations of its purpose have been confusing at best and contradictory at worst.
—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confuse. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
confuse
verb
con·fuse
kən-ˈfyüz 
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
adverb
-ˈfyüz(-ə)d-lē
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