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 From the playground to the dorm rooms, they’re encouraged to talk about what’s happening in their lives—confiding about crushes, work stress, or family drama—to narrate the small, daily moments that shape their world. Jenna Ryu, SELF, 24 Sep. 2025 Sophie Rottenberg, 29, died by suicide after confiding for months in a ChatGPT AI therapist called Harry, her mother shared in an op-ed published in The New York Times on Aug. 18. Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025 This was caused by the participants feeling unheard and invalidated when confiding their concerns to people who engaged in toxic positivity. Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 Listening to her music is like the most popular girl at your school confiding a secret in you. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for confide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confide
Verb
  • And while handing Ole Miss its first loss of the year was reason to celebrate, things got pretty somber rather quickly for the Bulldogs after learning the injury status of one of their top playmakers.
    Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025
  • There are Reddit groups dedicated to the hobby of collecting new and vintage matchbooks, and even a website called Matchbooktraveler that catalogs restaurants in the United States that hand them out.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Vital witnesses were killed in the blast All 16 people inside the facility died in the blast, leaving behind a devastated network of coworkers and loved ones as well as depriving investigators of crucial accounts of the final moments leading up to the explosion.
    Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Most of those who shaped or even marginally influenced the events of October 7th are gone, leaving Gaza’s authority withered to the point that even managing the hostages has become paralyzingly difficult.
    Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The quick and portable system also gives investigators the ability to do DNA analysis anywhere without the need for a labratory.
    Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
  • However, since the announcement, discourse around who should and shouldn’t be given wings exposed just how stuck in the past some viewers still are.
    Essence, Essence, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But last year, Haitians abroad, the majority of whom live in the United States, transferred more than $4 billion home through formal channels, according to the country’s central bank.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Simply shape and divide the dough, freeze pieces on a parchment-line sheet pan until firm, and then transfer to a zip-top freezer bag.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • How to protect yourself from AI phishing scams AI phishing scams rely on tricking people into trusting what looks and sounds real.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
  • While most viral infections in children are mild and self-limited, parents should always trust their instincts and reach out to their doctor if something feels off.
    Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch entrusted Philp, Kapanen and Vasily Podkolzin — along with the third defence pairing of Brett Kulak and Ty Emberson — to take on the lion’s share of the minutes against Vancouver’s top line of Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser and Jake DeBrusk.
    Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Pulte’s official job is director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, where he’s entrusted with the dull but critical task of ensuring the soundness of the mortgage market.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Running back Ahmad Hardy was uncharacteristically limited to 12 carries, while Jamal Roberts was delegated to just five.
    Chase Gemes, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
  • However, Congress has passed legislation delegating that power to the president over time.
    SJ Guest Editorial, Sourcing Journal, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Even ten minutes of morning movement coupled with short breaks for stretching (as a rule of thumb, physical therapists recommend doing some stretches every 20 minutes) can help keep your limbs loose and your mind focused.
    Calin Van Paris, Outside, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Many brands also recommend reusing the candle vessel after burning.
    Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Confide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confide. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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