confused

adjective

con·​fused kən-ˈfyüzd 

1

a

: being perplexed or disconcerted

the confused students

b

: disoriented with regard to one's sense of time, place, or identity

The patient became confused.

2

: indistinguishable

a zigzag, crisscross, confused trail

—Harry Hervey

3

: being disordered or mixed up

a contradictory and often confused story

confusedly

kən-ˈfyü-zəd-lē 

-ˈfyüzd-

adverb

confusedness

kən-ˈfyü-zəd-nəs 

-ˈfyüz(d)-

noun

Synonyms

• messy
• chaotic
• littered
• jumbled
• cluttered
• messed
• sloppy
• muddled
• filthy

Examples of confused in a Sentence

I've never been so confused.

We're confused about what to do next.

He gave a confused speech denying the accusations.

Recent Examples on the Web

After Instagram account WelcometoArizona posted a video on Instagram featuring Speed and his many followers trailing behind him at the Arizona State Fair, many people in the comments where confused who this guy even was. —Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 29 Sep. 2025

Scared, confused, adrenaline rushing. —Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025

And then there are the parents of the dead boy James, Joan (Victoria Clark) and David (Sam Robards), grieving, angry and perhaps most of all confused. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025

A lot of us are still confused on what exactly this charge -- the underlying facts are going to be. —ABC News, 28 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English — more at confuse

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for confused

• disabused
• overused
• underused
• unexcused
• abused
• accused
• amused
• bemused
• contused
• defused
• diffused
• disused

Medical Definition

confused

adjective

con·​fused kən-ˈfyüzd 

: affected with mental confusion