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

His victims were in court that day and left after an hour, confused about what happened, according to an attorney who represented them. —John Diedrich, jsonline.com, 16 Dec. 2025

Letting Miami Dade College authorize new charter schools will only add complications to the community that is already confused about how charter schools are managed and overseen, said Santos. —Daniel Rivero, Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 2025

Over a crackling line through their headsets came the small, desperate, confused voice of a child—a five-year-old girl called Hind Rajab—pleading with someone to come and get her. —Olivia Marks, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2025

Two women are the heroes of a confused rabbit that was stuck in a dryer hose in Phoenix this month. —Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 13 Dec. 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