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
Little signs of manipulation and gaslighting apepared along the way, further confusing her.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
Lethargic and confused in their play.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
In military settings, electronic warfare (EW) units use powerful transmitters to broadcast noise or false signals on the same frequencies, overwhelming or confusing the drone’s receiver.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2025
The hilarious sketch saw Thompson, Morgan, Fred Armisen, Michaela Watkins, and Kristen Wiig bicker at the Hot Topics table over a collection of political headlines, with Morgan's Shepherd visibly confused by what the words 'Eeyore' and 'research' meant.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
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David Oliver, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
Lethargic and confused in their play.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
In military settings, electronic warfare (EW) units use powerful transmitters to broadcast noise or false signals on the same frequencies, overwhelming or confusing the drone’s receiver.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2025
The hilarious sketch saw Thompson, Morgan, Fred Armisen, Michaela Watkins, and Kristen Wiig bicker at the Hot Topics table over a collection of political headlines, with Morgan's Shepherd visibly confused by what the words 'Eeyore' and 'research' meant.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 6 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 10 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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