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 Her work in this comprehensive anthology braids politics, gender, history and memory into confiding and powerful lyrics. Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026 This lawless crew shares dramaturgical DNA with the vice figures from medieval morality plays, personifications of sinfulness who would confide their schemes to the audience and make theatergoers their co-conspirators in a riveting game that obviously left its mark on a young Shakespeare. Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for confide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confide
Verb
  • And Curry entrusts his considerable talent to Kerr, who can look at his star point guard and just about diagnose his disposition.
    Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 10 May 2026
  • What to read next NASA also wants SpaceX and Blue Origin to fully demonstrate successful uncrewed touchdowns on the moon, and liftoffs back to lunar orbit, before entrusting the lives of astronauts aboard the landers.
    Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • Connecticut is a part of a deregulated regional electrical grid, and Nicola noted that electricity is bought and sold on the open market, leaving the risks of building new plants to private companies.
    Krisztian Elcsics, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
  • Making Democrats disappear The DeSantis scheme would give Republicans 24 of Florida’s 28 seats in Congress, leaving the Democrats with just four.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • So when Jaden Smith wandered over to sign autographs, Huang handed the reel to him instead.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 May 2026
  • The whole point is to remove the decisions, not hand them back to her.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • Trump demonizes immigrants and has launched a sweeping mass-deportation campaign that was cheered by the far right across Europe; Sánchez resists such nativism, and his government is in the midst of a program to give legal status to some half a million undocumented migrants living in Spain.
    Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 13 May 2026
  • Two losses in last month’s three league matches gave the impression of momentum slipping, and even if performances improved towards the end of April, something different was needed to shift the energy towards the club.
    Art de Roché, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • They are expected to face an extradition hearing on Monday before being transferred back to North Carolina to face charges.
    Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
  • Chundi expressed concern about money being transferred from Resilience to the Westlaw account, after hearing some of the testimony.
    Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • When a push comes to shove … trust your gut.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
  • Fiordirosa trusts him and has no problems giving Morgan the ball.
    Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • Mitsuye, working full-time as a professor of English and creative writing at Cypress College, didn’t shirk her duties as much as delegate them, taking something of a chief executive’s approach to parenting.
    Andre Mouchard, Daily News, 9 May 2026
  • According to O’Leary, airports have effectively delegated to airlines the consequences of early morning happy hour—namely, rowdy passengers boarding flights while less than lucid.
    Tristan Bove, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • Mohammadi’s brother Hamidreza Mohammadi, who is based in Oslo, had said medical examiners previously recommended her transfer to Tehran but the decision was blocked.
    Sarah el Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
  • Aside from scheduling a regular professional HVAC maintenance check, Sinclair recommends homeowners frequently clean around their outdoor AC unit.
    Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Confide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confide. Accessed 14 May. 2026.

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