plural confusions
1
: a situation in which people are uncertain about what to do or are unable to understand something clearly
The detour caused much confusion. [=the detour confused many people; the detour made many people uncertain about which roads to use]
There is still some confusion as to the time of the meeting.
There is a great deal of confusion about how the system works.
Changing the name of the company will only lead to confusion. [=make people uncertain]
the anxieties and confusions of teenage life
2
: the feeling that you have when you do not understand what is happening, what is expected, etc.
Her confusion was obvious.
He stared in confusion and disbelief.
3
: a state or situation in which many things are happening in a way that is not controlled or orderly
a scene of confusion
There was total/mass confusion when the truck hit the restaurant.
4
: the act of mistakenly thinking that one person or thing is another
Write clearly on the labels to avoid confusion.
Confusion between/of the words "affect" and "effect" is common.
Cite this Entry
“Confusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/confusion. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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