1
as in to bewilder
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the similar-sounding words "censure" and "censor" often confuse people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to complicate
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confuse
But that hasn’t stopped the country singer from being confused for…another bearded, long-haired country singer.
—
Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
Though easily confused with ladybugs, lady beetles differ in a few key ways and are especially active in the late fall.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Many fans, analysts were confused by that decision, and the major winner even admitted to being a little surprised, too.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
People often confuse neurodivergence and neurodiversity, but there is an important difference, Walker said.
—Ayana Archie, NPR, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
Though easily confused with ladybugs, lady beetles differ in a few key ways and are especially active in the late fall.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Many fans, analysts were confused by that decision, and the major winner even admitted to being a little surprised, too.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
People often confuse neurodivergence and neurodiversity, but there is an important difference, Walker said.
—Ayana Archie, NPR, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
Verb
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Nandi is experiencing severe insomnia, tremors and psychosis, and her quickly deteriorating condition bewilders the emergency room staff.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
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Gelles avoids lionizing Patagonia’s leader, describing Chouinard’s mercurial leadership style that often bewildered his staff at Patagonia.—
Maya Silver,
Outside,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Here's how DaCosta's film updates and complicates its already complex, legendary central figure.—
Rory Doherty,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
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Multiple agencies, few agency markings on cars Involvement of other federal agencies in immigration activities further complicates the situation, said Reeves, the former ICE employee.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Logic detects patterns and refines them, mistaking iteration for innovation.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
3 Nov. 2025
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Some of us had at first mistaken the howler monkeys for machinery.—
Ryan Knighton,
AFAR Media,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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French authorities have arrested several suspects after a frantic manhunt for the men who staged a spectacular daytime heist at the Louvre museum that gripped the world and embarrassed the government in Paris.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
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For French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, the heist spotlights embarrassing security failings at one of France’s most venerable institutions.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But the science shows exercising late at night, just before bed can disrupt sleep.—
Allison Aubrey,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
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China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force and Navy both operate advanced jamming aircraft, such as the J-16D, equipped with pods that can disrupt radar, GPS, and datalinks across wide areas.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Country fans were perplexed as to why Johnson, revered for his commitment to traditional country, had gone mostly dark in the studio during that time.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
29 Oct. 2025
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Lauren Freeman, his cousin, told Fox News Digital earlier this month that a reference to orthopedic hardware in his neck had perplexed the family.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The exhibition is set to take a unique approach, deliberately blurring the line between a traditional museum presentation and an eerie spectacle.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
31 Oct. 2025
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Those videos, some with the watermarks cropped or blurred, have deluged social media in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Seattle sacked Lawrence a career-high seven times and flustered him all game.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
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The Cardinals’ defense flustered Miami in a signature 24-21 win.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuse. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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