Definition of confuse
confused
;confusing
transitive verb
1 archaic : to bring to ruin
2a : to make embarrassed : abashb : to disturb in mind or purpose : throw off The directions she gave confused us.
3a : to make indistinct : blur Stop confusing the issue.b : to mix indiscriminately : jumble Their arms, legs, and bodies were confused together, till they resembled … two serpents interlaced. — Thomas Medwinc : to fail to differentiate from an often similar or related other confuse money with comfort Do not confuse the words “flaunt” and “flout”.
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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.
Origin and Etymology of confuse
back-formation from Middle English confused frustrated, ruined, from Anglo-French confus, from Latin confusus, past participle of confundere
First Known Use: 14th century
CONFUSE Defined for English Language Learners
confuse
playDefinition of confuse for English Language Learners
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: to make (someone) uncertain or unable to understand something
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: to make (something) difficult to understand
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: to mistakenly think that one person or thing is another person or thing : to mistake (one person or thing) for another
CONFUSE Defined for Kids
Learn More about confuse
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See words that rhyme with confuse Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for confuse Spanish Central: Translation of confuse Nglish: Translation of confuse for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of confuse for Arabic speakers
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