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 At a recent legacy nonprofit gala, a colleague confided that the event was the same thing—and the same people—year after year. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 Then Rocha saw him a year later, and the student confided that college just wasn’t for him. — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2026 The problem with Dolan, this person confided, was that the owner fancied himself knowledgeable about basketball. — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026 But during the March video conference, Colorado regulators confided to industry lobbyists that the tool for rooting out fraud isn’t working. — Christopher Osher, ProPublica, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for confide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confide
Verb
  • The Jets conducted an exhaustive search for their coach and general manager in 2025, and Johnson could entrust Mougey with those decisions this time.
    — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The rifle is entrusted to the goat herder’s two young sons, who end up firing it from a mountainside at a coach filled with Western tourists just to see how far the bullet would go.
    — Ray Bennett, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Brown previously served as chairman, but caucus rules state that seniority resets if a senator leaves and then is reelected.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026
  • That would leave each side well below the 61 seats needed to form a government with a parliamentary majority.
    — Giovanna Dell'Orto, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Ingrid spotted my car, greeted me with a big hug, and handed me a glass of white wine.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Queen Camilla, who wears the midi and maxidresses, took her admiration for Me+Em a step further, handing the brand a Royal Warrant as an official supplier of clothing and accessories to the royal household.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Having been given countless opportunities to make their names in history as the conscience of the GOP, the six members of Arkansas' congressional delegation chose for the past decade to instead be Trump sycophants.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026
  • With a chance to steal the game, Wyatt was called for holding and the clock ran out, giving Arlington Heights a 27-22 victory Friday at Farrington Field in a thriller.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • This is where the belief that began with one entrepreneur starts transferring to other people.
    — Jerry Bobb, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The records show between July of 2025, when ORR began placing pregnant girls in South Texas, and May of 2026, four of them had to be transferred to other states to receive medical treatment.
    — Mark Betancourt, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Those surveyed were also split on whether Republicans or Democrats can be trusted more on AI.
    — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 29 Oct. 2026
  • East Aurora coach Nathan Parry trusts Montano in those situations, and that trust was rewarded handsomely Tuesday.
    — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Every leader is coached to delegate relentlessly—if someone else can do it 80% as well, hand it off and go work on the business instead of in it.
    — Annette Logan-Parker, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • When competing demands become overwhelming, triage your work into what has the greatest impact, what still needs to be done, and what can be deleted, delegated, or delayed.
    — Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • By allowing as few as eight of 12 jurors to recommend it in Florida, the Legislature created the nation’s easiest path to execution.
    — Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Staff recommended exploring other tower top shapes to create a stronger, more dramatic design.
    — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Confide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confide. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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