confide

verb

con·fide kən-ˈfīd

confided; confiding

Synonyms of confide next

intransitive verb

: to have confidence : trust

We cannot confide wholly in our own powers.

: to show confidence by imparting secrets

confide in a friend

transitive verb

: to tell confidentially

He dared not confide the secret to his family.

: to give to the care or protection of another : entrust

… do not confide your children to strangers.—

Mavis Gallant

confider noun

Choose the Right Synonym for confide

commit, entrust, confide, consign, relegate mean to assign to a person or place for a definite purpose.

commit may express the general idea of delivering into another's charge or the special sense of transferring to a superior power or to a special place of custody.

committed the felon to prison

entrust implies committing with trust and confidence.

the president is entrusted with broad powers

confide implies entrusting with great assurance or reliance.

confided complete control of my affairs to my attorney

consign suggests removing from one's control with formality or finality.

consigned the damaging notes to the fire

relegate implies a consigning to a particular class or sphere often with a suggestion of getting rid of.

relegated to an obscure position in the company

Example Sentences

He confided that he was very unhappy with his job. the local SPCA was looking for homes for a number of exotic animals confided to its care

Recent Examples on the Web Putin’s vision of Russia horrifies many oligarchs and state officials, who quietly confide that the war has been a catastrophic error that has failed in every goal. —

Robyn Dixon And Catherine Belton, Anchorage Daily News, 20 Feb. 2023 The Queen of True Crime Soon, Lauren was moved to confide in Delp that she was abused by her parents and raped by an uncle. —

Sarah Treleaven, ELLE, 8 Dec. 2022 Eventually, in the summer of 2022, J.J. began to confide in the woman about her concerns about Bateman, Martin said. —

Sheila Mccann, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 Dec. 2022 But short of that, find others to confide in outside this wedding-minded circle. —

Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 11 Nov. 2022 My heart is open to anyone who needs someone to confide in. —

Jake Adams, The Courier-Journal, 7 Oct. 2022 By that time, the problem has become grave, and the executive should be thanked for having the courage to confide in a peer. —

Lila Maclellan, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2022 Something is wrong, but the boy refuses to confide in Kate. —

Peter Debruge, Variety, 7 Sep. 2022 The couple on the brink of divorce decided to confide their secrets instead. —

WIRED, 5 Sep. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'confide.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

early Scots, borrowed from Latin confīdere "to put trust in, have confidence in," from con- con- + fīdere "to trust (in), rely (on)" going back to Indo-European *b^hei̯d^h- "trust, entrust" — more at faith entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of confide was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Confide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confide. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

confide

verb

con·fide kən-ˈfīd

confided; confiding

: to have confidence : trust

confide in a doctor's skill

: to show confidence by telling secrets

confided in her mother

: to tell in confidence

confide a secret to a friend

: entrust sense 1

confide one's safety to the police

confider noun

Etymology

Middle English confiden "to confide, trust," from early French confider or Latin confidere (both, same meaning), from Latin con-, com- "with, together" and fidere "to trust" — related to faith