confuse

verb

con·​fuse kən-ˈfyüz 

confused; confusing

transitive verb

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

3

: to make embarrassed : abash

4

archaic : to bring to ruin

confusingly

kən-ˈfyü-ziŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• addle
• baffle
• bamboozle
• beat
• befog
• befuddle
• bemuse
• bewilder
• buffalo
• confound
• discombobulate
• disorient
• flummox
• fox
• fuddle
• get
• gravel
• maze
• muddle
• muddy
• mystify
• perplex
• pose
• puzzle
• vex

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

Wolf spiders and brown recluse spiders are often confused for one another because of the arachnids’ timid nature and motley combinations of browns, blacks and grays, according to Kapture Pest Control. —Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 14 July 2024

But social media’s fascination with him is increasingly unflattering, portraying a man of blank stares, confusing asides and wayward sentences — consuming Democrats and shifting the narrative away from Trump just months before the election. —Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2024

The District either knew and took no action, or was detrimentally confused on the matter, despite watching other counties pay charter schools in this manner. —Tom Vasquez, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2024

The big picture: Employers are confused, says Muccifori. —Emily Peck, Axios, 9 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English confusen, back-formation from confused "frustrated, ruined," participle based on Anglo-French confus, borrowed from Latin confūsus, past participle of confundere "to pour together, blend, bring into disorder, destroy, disconcert" — more at confound

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Kids 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

-ˈfyüz(-ə)d-lē

adverb

confusingly

-ˈfyü-ziŋ-lē 

adverb