1
as in confuses
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related
be careful not to conflate gossip with real news
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in combines
to turn into a single mass or entity that is more or less the same throughout
the movie conflates documentary footage and dramatized reenactments so seamlessly and ingeniously that viewers may not know what is real and what is not
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of conflates
This entire season has dissected the way that modern society conflates existential and economic purpose.
—
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
Given that women in other countries do wear lipstick as an act of resistance today, suggesting that American feminists did so in 1912 conflates their wildly different cultural contexts, and blurs one’s sense of what constitutes public dissidence.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
Tate’s commentary instead conflates population-level decline (NAEP) with performance among a selective, higher-achieving subset of students (SAT/ACT), and then treats this mismatch as evidence of test manipulation.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Critics say that definition conflates criticism of the Israeli government with antisemitism.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 2026
Nobility is a social construct that conflates social status with positive character traits and has been used for centuries to justify the hoarding of power and wealth.
—F.d. Flam, Twin Cities, 22 Nov. 2025
The claim conflates strategic instruments with objectives.
—Moritz S. Graefrath, Foreign Affairs, 19 Nov. 2025
Among the crowds, which have on occasion contained tens of thousands, there have been displays of violent antisemitic sentiment, as well as language that conflates enmity toward Israel, Zionism and Jews themselves.
—Alex Holmes, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
Given that women in other countries do wear lipstick as an act of resistance today, suggesting that American feminists did so in 1912 conflates their wildly different cultural contexts, and blurs one’s sense of what constitutes public dissidence.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
Tate’s commentary instead conflates population-level decline (NAEP) with performance among a selective, higher-achieving subset of students (SAT/ACT), and then treats this mismatch as evidence of test manipulation.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Critics say that definition conflates criticism of the Israeli government with antisemitism.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 2026
Nobility is a social construct that conflates social status with positive character traits and has been used for centuries to justify the hoarding of power and wealth.
—F.d. Flam, Twin Cities, 22 Nov. 2025
The claim conflates strategic instruments with objectives.
—Moritz S. Graefrath, Foreign Affairs, 19 Nov. 2025
Among the crowds, which have on occasion contained tens of thousands, there have been displays of violent antisemitic sentiment, as well as language that conflates enmity toward Israel, Zionism and Jews themselves.
—Alex Holmes, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conflates
Verb
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Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policy Go somewhere that confuses your algorithm.—
Kevin Sintumuang,
Outside,
10 Mar. 2026
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An actress in 1962 Cuban, as its missiles crisis rages, confuses her role in a film and real life.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Today’s Prius combines the same legendary efficiency with real performance, genuinely appealing design and everyday practicality.—
Sponsored Content,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
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This approach combines the superior surface properties of tungsten with the structural and economic advantages of other materials.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The collection merges advanced material engineering with innovative fiber compositions and a refined design language, offering a new perspective on how denim can evolve—both technically and aesthetically.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
2 Apr. 2026
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At times, this merges with the physicality of the architecture, morphing into and informing it, as with the Guggenheim Bilbao.—
Norman Foster,
Artforum,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The production system integrates 24 precision assembly stages and 77 inspection checkpoints, ensuring both efficiency and quality control.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Apr. 2026
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The school integrates four years of rigorous academics with four years of professional work experience through its corporate work study program.—
Christina Mayo,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The scent of orange blossoms mixes with heady incense.—
Alexis Marshall,
NPR,
3 Apr. 2026
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The couple adopted two black lab mixes from Humane Animal Partners in Delaware.—
Christopher Edwards,
PEOPLE,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The building design incorporates elements from surrounding structures for water conservation.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
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If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler, which famously incorporates a variety of incompatible genres.—
Daniel Birnbaum,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There is one particularly inventive sequence that blends a rendering of Mario in his original 2D 8-bit form, blurry pixels and all, with the 3D beauty of the more modern iterations.—
Lindsey Bahr,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
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Gomez uses one pump all over her entire face and blends it in with the new Soft Touch Makeup Blending Sponge.—
Elizabeth Denton,
Allure,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conflates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conflates. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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