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

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

Fans were a little confused after leaving a concert for Brandy Norwood and Monica Arnold's The Boys Is Mine Tour this weekend without hearing the duo's 1998 classic. —Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025

Additionally, Owens’ youngest child, Titus, who was just a toddler when his mother died, was confused, irritable and inconsolable in the weeks after her death, Dias shared. —Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025

When the teamsheets were first released, United fans were equal parts confused and terrified. —Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025

Officers were apparently confused. —Aida Alami, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025

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