Definition of confidenext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word confide distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of confide are commit, consign, entrust, and relegate. While all these words mean "to assign to a person or place for a definite purpose," confide implies entrusting with great assurance or reliance.

confided complete control of my affairs to my attorney

When is commit a more appropriate choice than confide?

While in some cases nearly identical to confide, commit may express the general idea of delivering into another's charge or the special sense of transferring to a superior power or to a special place of custody.

committed the felon to prison

When could consign be used to replace confide?

While the synonyms consign and confide are close in meaning, consign suggests removing from one's control with formality or finality.

consigned the damaging notes to the fire

Where would entrust be a reasonable alternative to confide?

In some situations, the words entrust and confide are roughly equivalent. However, entrust implies committing with trust and confidence.

the president is entrusted with broad powers

When would relegate be a good substitute for confide?

The words relegate and confide are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, relegate implies a consigning to a particular class or sphere often with a suggestion of getting rid of.

relegated to an obscure position in the company

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 confide When Zane confided that his pet cat – Holly – once brought him back from the brink of suicide as a teenager, the chatbot responded that Zane would see her on the other side. Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025 The game warden who conducted my background check confided that the state is so hard up for hunte-ed instructors that hunting experience is no longer a requirement for teaching the class. The Editors, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025 The investigation began in July 2016, when a church member in whom Taylor confided reported the claims to officials at the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the lawsuit says. Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025 White once confided that just about everyone on the UFC roster wants to get the call for the event, and Buffer echoed those sentiments. Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for confide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confide
Verb
  • The legislative branch is constitutionally entrusted with the passage of legislation that, with the president’s signature, becomes law.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 23 Mar. 2026
  • Our baby girl was entrusted to this facility in November 2024, seven years after this series of events began.
    Vaughan Bagley, Baltimore Sun, 22 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • What happens when a movement built on peace sets off a chain of events that leaves a region fluent only in the language of violence?
    Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Her aunt had resisted leaving the capital for two weeks, but was finally convinced to evacuate.
    Jason Rezaian, New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • In the show notes handed to audience members at Marc Jacobs’s Fall/Winter 2026 presentation, at New York’s Park Avenue Armory in early February, the designer included a section titled Credits and Receipts.
    Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2026
  • The White House handed a major boon to its tech industry allies on Friday, unveiling recommendations to Congress to curb state laws that limit artificial intelligence.
    Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • According to investigators, during the months she was held captive, the teen was barely given food and was forced to use a water jug as a toilet.
    CBS New York Team, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
  • The law extended the program for two years, setting the current expiration deadline and giving lawmakers another opportunity to revisit possible reforms.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Cantens, a 40-year-old Miami native, played his first year of college basketball at FIU as a 6-foot point guard before transferring to Eckerd College and reaching the NCAA Division II national playoffs.
    Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
  • In March 2025, a National Labor Relations Board judge ruled Watercrest violated a collective bargaining agreement with the workers’ union by transferring the operations of its facility in North Miami Beach without the union’s consent.
    Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • March 21 – April 19 Aries, start by trusting yourself.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026
  • These reactions are common and typically reflect difficulty trusting the body rather than a lack of motivation or effort.
    Ian McMahan, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • In the mid-2000s, Khamenei delegated some of his authority to the council to supervise the three branches of government.
    Eric Lob, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
  • That said, don’t forget to delegate as necessary!
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Barker recommends those who want to donate look up their local union district on the American Federation of Government Employees website, or give through their local labor council.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
  • In some cases, physicians may also recommend medications such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs when stress contributes to significant mental health symptoms.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 22 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Confide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confide. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on confide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster