1
as in cursed
deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure
that confounded dog chewed up my shoe
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in perplexed
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do
the sudden burden of familial responsibility has left him anxious and confounded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion
since their house is old and impressive-looking, they are frequently imposed upon by confounded tourists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in baffled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
we were confounded by the player's remote control, which wasn't at all user-friendly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in embarrassed
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
his renewed popularity has confounded the critics who said his singing career was dead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in confused
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related
I think you've confounded astrology with astronomy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in refuted
to prove to be false
new discoveries that confound much of what archaeologists thought they knew about the Mayan civilization
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 confounded
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
The Vikings defense hounded Maye, a veteran unit that ranked second in takeaways last year and confounded veteran quarterbacks with its exotic pressure packages.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Aug. 2025
The displeasure of it gave way to absurdity, out of which emerged a mutual, confounded glee.
—Kent Russell, Harper's Magazine, 15 Sep. 2020
In Europe itself, Greece has so far confounded predictions by avoiding the kind of mass outbreaks that have claimed tens of thousands of lives in Italy, France, and Britain.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 2020
And with wild swings on Tuesday, the markets proved those predictions correct, a marker of how confounded investors appear as the covid-19 economic crisis takes a fuller form.
—Jacob Bogage, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Mar. 2020
The Germans are no less confounded than the Democrats.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 14 June 2019
Learn how to work the confounded thing at free Android smartphone workshops being held in South Florida, sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons.
—Doreen Christensen, Sun-Sentinel.com, 9 Mar. 2018
For decades, recovery stories like this confounded researchers, who characterized autism as a lifelong condition.
—Brendan Borrell, Slate Magazine, 22 Sep. 2017
Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2026
In both novels, young people are trying to figure out how life works, confounded by the arbitrariness of what is presented to them as natural.
—James Wood, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Statewide ballot questions that have confounded voters of both parties.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 3 May 2026
The police killing of Manuel Teran only confounded a very tense situation in Atlanta.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Supporters dispute interpretation The position taken by Raynes’ group on the civil rights bill has confounded some of the measure’s supporters.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
Rupturing the northernmost 296 miles of the San Andreas Fault from northwest of San Juan Bautista to the triple junction at Cape Mendocino, the earthquake confounded contemporary geologists with its large, horizontal displacements and great rupture length.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
Cold case for years Perez’s case had confounded cold case investigators for years.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 6 Apr. 2026
The Vanderbilt product confounded Reds batters, inducing 18 swings and misses while only giving up one run and four hits in five innings with nine strikeouts.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Dosunmu operated at times like a one-man wrecking crew, forcing his way downhill in the half court and cracking open the Heat’s confounded defense in the flow of transition.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
The Vikings defense hounded Maye, a veteran unit that ranked second in takeaways last year and confounded veteran quarterbacks with its exotic pressure packages.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Aug. 2025
The displeasure of it gave way to absurdity, out of which emerged a mutual, confounded glee.
—Kent Russell, Harper's Magazine, 15 Sep. 2020
In Europe itself, Greece has so far confounded predictions by avoiding the kind of mass outbreaks that have claimed tens of thousands of lives in Italy, France, and Britain.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 2020
And with wild swings on Tuesday, the markets proved those predictions correct, a marker of how confounded investors appear as the covid-19 economic crisis takes a fuller form.
—Jacob Bogage, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Mar. 2020
The Germans are no less confounded than the Democrats.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 14 June 2019
Learn how to work the confounded thing at free Android smartphone workshops being held in South Florida, sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons.
—Doreen Christensen, Sun-Sentinel.com, 9 Mar. 2018
For decades, recovery stories like this confounded researchers, who characterized autism as a lifelong condition.
—Brendan Borrell, Slate Magazine, 22 Sep. 2017
Verb
Florida state senators are following Washington’s lead in backing research to solve one of the great mysteries of the universe, one that has confounded great thinkers through time.
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2026
In both novels, young people are trying to figure out how life works, confounded by the arbitrariness of what is presented to them as natural.
—James Wood, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Statewide ballot questions that have confounded voters of both parties.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 3 May 2026
The police killing of Manuel Teran only confounded a very tense situation in Atlanta.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Supporters dispute interpretation The position taken by Raynes’ group on the civil rights bill has confounded some of the measure’s supporters.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
Rupturing the northernmost 296 miles of the San Andreas Fault from northwest of San Juan Bautista to the triple junction at Cape Mendocino, the earthquake confounded contemporary geologists with its large, horizontal displacements and great rupture length.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
Cold case for years Perez’s case had confounded cold case investigators for years.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 6 Apr. 2026
The Vanderbilt product confounded Reds batters, inducing 18 swings and misses while only giving up one run and four hits in five innings with nine strikeouts.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confounded
Adjective
-
Feld debuted in West Town at what seemed to be a cursed space in June 2024.—
Louisa Kung Liu Chu,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
-
After witnessing so much destruction, Bear locks himself in the bathroom and tries to end the cursed wish by killing himself.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Those watching were perplexed that two people who could play husband and wife — albeit, locked in an abusive relationship — wouldn’t do press in the same room, let alone pose together at the premiere.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
-
For Bogaerts, Severino is the one who leaves him perplexed, the one who has him asking why this guy, of all guys, owns him.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Karl-Anthony Towns, who was on the podium with him, took off his glasses and looked at his teammate with a bewildered expression.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
-
Everyone was so relieved to see how bewildered everyone else was that the feeling in this place was almost festive.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The footage was reposted on TikTok, and the comments were divided—some were convinced that the lyrics had a dark undertone, while others were baffled that a throwaway TikTok meme could be used as evidence in court.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
They are baffled by filmmakers who do not think more aggressively about sustainability, ownership, and business models around their work.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Some fans weighed in on his outfit choice on social media, sparking conversations about if the actor might have embarrassed his wife.—
Juliana Ukiomogbe,
InStyle,
27 May 2026
-
The Sixers were embarrassed by the Knicks 144-114 in Game 4 in front of a New York-heavy crowd in South Philadelphia.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Statlander was dazed and confused when Thekla nailed her with a nasty stomp.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
25 May 2026
-
She’s continuously confused about its premise, will burst into tears for no reason, and truly sees it as an opportunity to finally make friends in Rhode Island — no matter how misguided that intention may be.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
While some rumors swirled that the post-win Sway, as it’s called, was cut, multiple sources familiar with the situation refuted that claim.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
20 May 2026
-
Cuban officials have angrily refuted the pressure campaign and promised to resist any military intervention with force.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
There’s gonna be some comedy at the beginning and then there’s gonna be freaking reggaeton!—
Suzy Exposito,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
That itself should be a freaking movie.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confounded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confounded. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
