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 of confused

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

There was a long, confused silence from developers Tuesday night when the Eagle City Council members voted, 3-2, to reject a 43-home subdivision near Eagle Island State Park. — Noah Daly august 1, Idaho Statesman, 1 Aug. 2026

This defeat is a significant blow for The Bloodline, whose character direction has become increasingly muddled, leaving fans confused. — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Still, a lot of Americans are confused about what democratic socialism is. — Emily R. Condon, USA Today, 30 July 2026

During his interview with co-host Craig Melvin, Starkey appeared confused when Melvin, 47, randomly brought up his appreciation for the MTV series, which initially ran from 2009 to 2012. — Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026

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