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
Free Press, not to be confused with the Bari Weiss startup called The Free Press, advocates against media consolidation and censorship.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 8 Dec. 2025
But a rising generation of new fans seem to be confused about the effects time has had on its core cast.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Dec. 2025
Ivette Granados, a travel guide based in Loreto, says many visitors confuse the city for a sleepy beach town.
—Annabelle Canela, Parents, 7 Dec. 2025
Located on Crickets Avenue (named after his famous band), this museum is not to be confused with the new Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences concert venue (more on that later).
—Amy Nelson, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
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Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 8 Dec. 2025
But a rising generation of new fans seem to be confused about the effects time has had on its core cast.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Dec. 2025
Ivette Granados, a travel guide based in Loreto, says many visitors confuse the city for a sleepy beach town.
—Annabelle Canela, Parents, 7 Dec. 2025
Located on Crickets Avenue (named after his famous band), this museum is not to be confused with the new Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences concert venue (more on that later).
—Amy Nelson, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confuse. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
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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