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
The abrupt tonal shift left some MLB viewers confused, sparking an online conversation.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
As cold weather approaches, Asian beetles, an invasive species often confused for native ladybugs, have been seeking out places to overwinter.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Other tour guides agreed, believing Canadians do this to avoid being confused with their American counterparts.
—Vivian Song, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
The lyrics can confuse you, too.
—Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
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Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
As cold weather approaches, Asian beetles, an invasive species often confused for native ladybugs, have been seeking out places to overwinter.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Other tour guides agreed, believing Canadians do this to avoid being confused with their American counterparts.
—Vivian Song, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
The lyrics can confuse you, too.
—Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 27 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 4 Nov. 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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