1
as in cursed
deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure
that confounded dog chewed up my shoe
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in perplexed
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do
the sudden burden of familial responsibility has left him anxious and confounded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion
since their house is old and impressive-looking, they are frequently imposed upon by confounded tourists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in baffled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
we were confounded by the player's remote control, which wasn't at all user-friendly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in embarrassed
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
his renewed popularity has confounded the critics who said his singing career was dead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in confused
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related
I think you've confounded astrology with astronomy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in refuted
to prove to be false
new discoveries that confound much of what archaeologists thought they knew about the Mayan civilization
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of confounded
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
The Vikings defense hounded Maye, a veteran unit that ranked second in takeaways last year and confounded veteran quarterbacks with its exotic pressure packages.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Aug. 2025
The displeasure of it gave way to absurdity, out of which emerged a mutual, confounded glee.
—Kent Russell, Harper's Magazine, 15 Sep. 2020
In Europe itself, Greece has so far confounded predictions by avoiding the kind of mass outbreaks that have claimed tens of thousands of lives in Italy, France, and Britain.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 2020
And with wild swings on Tuesday, the markets proved those predictions correct, a marker of how confounded investors appear as the covid-19 economic crisis takes a fuller form.
—Jacob Bogage, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Mar. 2020
The Germans are no less confounded than the Democrats.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 14 June 2019
Learn how to work the confounded thing at free Android smartphone workshops being held in South Florida, sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons.
—Doreen Christensen, Sun-Sentinel.com, 9 Mar. 2018
For decades, recovery stories like this confounded researchers, who characterized autism as a lifelong condition.
—Brendan Borrell, Slate Magazine, 22 Sep. 2017
Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 8 June 2026
Either way, experts are confounded.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
Now Becerra tops them all, according to the most recent opinion polls, emerging as a surprise front-runner in a race that has confounded voters and political experts alike.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Florida state senators are following Washington’s lead in backing research to solve one of the great mysteries of the universe, one that has confounded great thinkers through time.
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2026
In both novels, young people are trying to figure out how life works, confounded by the arbitrariness of what is presented to them as natural.
—James Wood, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Statewide ballot questions that have confounded voters of both parties.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 3 May 2026
The police killing of Manuel Teran only confounded a very tense situation in Atlanta.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Supporters dispute interpretation The position taken by Raynes’ group on the civil rights bill has confounded some of the measure’s supporters.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Dosunmu operated at times like a one-man wrecking crew, forcing his way downhill in the half court and cracking open the Heat’s confounded defense in the flow of transition.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
The Vikings defense hounded Maye, a veteran unit that ranked second in takeaways last year and confounded veteran quarterbacks with its exotic pressure packages.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Aug. 2025
The displeasure of it gave way to absurdity, out of which emerged a mutual, confounded glee.
—Kent Russell, Harper's Magazine, 15 Sep. 2020
In Europe itself, Greece has so far confounded predictions by avoiding the kind of mass outbreaks that have claimed tens of thousands of lives in Italy, France, and Britain.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 2020
And with wild swings on Tuesday, the markets proved those predictions correct, a marker of how confounded investors appear as the covid-19 economic crisis takes a fuller form.
—Jacob Bogage, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Mar. 2020
The Germans are no less confounded than the Democrats.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 14 June 2019
Learn how to work the confounded thing at free Android smartphone workshops being held in South Florida, sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons.
—Doreen Christensen, Sun-Sentinel.com, 9 Mar. 2018
For decades, recovery stories like this confounded researchers, who characterized autism as a lifelong condition.
—Brendan Borrell, Slate Magazine, 22 Sep. 2017
Verb
Still, if some international fans are confounded by or disappointed with American politics, the feeling isn’t shared by the leaders of FIFA.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 8 June 2026
Either way, experts are confounded.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
Now Becerra tops them all, according to the most recent opinion polls, emerging as a surprise front-runner in a race that has confounded voters and political experts alike.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Florida state senators are following Washington’s lead in backing research to solve one of the great mysteries of the universe, one that has confounded great thinkers through time.
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2026
In both novels, young people are trying to figure out how life works, confounded by the arbitrariness of what is presented to them as natural.
—James Wood, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Statewide ballot questions that have confounded voters of both parties.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 3 May 2026
The police killing of Manuel Teran only confounded a very tense situation in Atlanta.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Supporters dispute interpretation The position taken by Raynes’ group on the civil rights bill has confounded some of the measure’s supporters.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confounded
Adjective
-
The magic trick of creator Katie Dippold’s series, about a mayor named Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) who tries to bring tourism to his totally cursed island community, lies in its hard-to-describe tone.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
-
The history has fueled countless theories, documentaries, podcasts and social media posts that portray Lake Lanier as cursed or haunted.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
That was intentional, as a smiling Caballero admitted to enjoying the moment after the warning left him perplexed and agitated.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
15 June 2026
-
Employees at Alliance for a Better Utah were equally perplexed.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
At the risk of sounding less like a columnist and more like a bewildered bystander … what the heck happened?—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
-
Urged by a call from Hugo to destroy her phone and flee Kansas City fast, before WARDEX can get to her, Margaret also hits the road, accompanied initially by a bewildered Jackson.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
His mother, Ahmani Hicks, describes him as a kid who loved sports, and she's baffled as to why her son was targeted.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
-
Known as the Galactic Center Excess, a spherical gamma-ray glow extending out for thousands of light-years from the core of our galaxy, this high-energy light has baffled researchers for over a decade.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
The case has generated intense international attention because of Hoiby's connection to the royal family, who have been embarrassed by it.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
-
But Americans don’t want to see the home team embarrassed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
It's called cognitive empathy, not to be confused with emotional empathy.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
-
So The Listeners — not to be confused with 2022’s The Listener starring Tessa Thompson and you in a voice role — is just now reaching the States.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
Though then-Bucks coach Doc Rivers refuted that report, Antetokounmpo acknowledged that the offseason was a time when temptation could be very real for him.—
Eric Nehm,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
-
After her daughter's murder, Franchetti began a grassroots movement to rewrite family court law, but the legislation was held up by legal language that might have greenlighted hearsay allegations or the potential for false claims that couldn't be refuted.—
Jennifer McLogan,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
There’s gonna be some comedy at the beginning and then there’s gonna be freaking reggaeton!—
Suzy Exposito,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
That itself should be a freaking movie.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confounded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confounded. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
