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
And when the series takes an occasional serious turn, you'll just be confused.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 2 May 2025
However, simply getting older doesn’t equate to consistently missing bills or appointments, having a hard time speaking with people, or feeling lost or confused in places that are familiar to you.
—Alisa Hrustic, SELF, 1 May 2025
When mnemonic pattern separation doesn’t work well, which is common in PTSD, people may start to confuse safe situations with past danger.
—Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
This is not to be confused with The Best FIFA Goalkeeper, with Martinez the incumbent of that award.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
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Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 2 May 2025
However, simply getting older doesn’t equate to consistently missing bills or appointments, having a hard time speaking with people, or feeling lost or confused in places that are familiar to you.
—Alisa Hrustic, SELF, 1 May 2025
When mnemonic pattern separation doesn’t work well, which is common in PTSD, people may start to confuse safe situations with past danger.
—Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
This is not to be confused with The Best FIFA Goalkeeper, with Martinez the incumbent of that award.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 30 Apr. 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 15 May. 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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