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
No one is going to confuse the Dolphins with the Buffalo Bills or the Indianapolis Colts or the Pittsburgh Steelers, three one-loss teams leading their AFC divisions.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
Though some might be confused by insurance companies sending letters urging consumers to get screened, some advocates say any awareness about colon cancer screening is welcome.
—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025
The Jets would earn a massive F in this space, though, after Jets head coach Aaron Glenn confused even Payton by simply bleeding the clock out to end the first half rather than try and put points on the board.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
The second-year coach appeared to be confused after the foul call before exiting the court and heading into the locker room tunnel.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
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Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
Though some might be confused by insurance companies sending letters urging consumers to get screened, some advocates say any awareness about colon cancer screening is welcome.
—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025
The Jets would earn a massive F in this space, though, after Jets head coach Aaron Glenn confused even Payton by simply bleeding the clock out to end the first half rather than try and put points on the board.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
The second-year coach appeared to be confused after the foul call before exiting the court and heading into the locker room tunnel.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 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 Oct. 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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