1
as in cursed
deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure
that confounded dog chewed up my shoe
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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4
as in refuted
to prove to be false
new discoveries that confound much of what archaeologists thought they knew about the Mayan civilization
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confounded
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
Hazlitt, 11 Dec. 2024
The album confounded some critics upon its release, but was roundly embraced by fans as their favorite artist’s most unguarded statement to date.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 19 Dec. 2024
Strands, our word search puzzle game, has confounded and enthralled solvers.
—New York Times, 18 Dec. 2024
One of these was Dylan’s close friend Pete Seeger, the elder statesman of folk and roots music who’s played in the film by Edward Norton as a kindly patriarch who is confounded by Dylan’s betrayal.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 16 Dec. 2024
The response confounded experts who spoke with ProPublica, who said such an approach misunderstands the long-term nature of his condition.
—Annie Waldman, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
Wake Forest confounded the Stanford women’s soccer team once again on Friday.
—Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 7 Dec. 2024
And there was always a green salad served with a selection of oil, vinegar, and seasonings so everyone at the table could dress their own (a method that confounded me, the child of a balsamic vinaigrette lover).
—Ellen Fort, Saveur, 3 Oct. 2024
On her debut, Minaj rapped ferociously and sang earnestly – sometimes in the same song – a combination of skills that, coupled with the sparkly beats of Drew Money, Swizz Beatz, and Pop & Oak, confounded those who encountered her on a vibe closer to The Come Up DVD.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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
The music industry was confounded.
—Hazlitt, 11 Dec. 2024
The album confounded some critics upon its release, but was roundly embraced by fans as their favorite artist’s most unguarded statement to date.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 19 Dec. 2024
Strands, our word search puzzle game, has confounded and enthralled solvers.
—New York Times, 18 Dec. 2024
One of these was Dylan’s close friend Pete Seeger, the elder statesman of folk and roots music who’s played in the film by Edward Norton as a kindly patriarch who is confounded by Dylan’s betrayal.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 16 Dec. 2024
The response confounded experts who spoke with ProPublica, who said such an approach misunderstands the long-term nature of his condition.
—Annie Waldman, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
Wake Forest confounded the Stanford women’s soccer team once again on Friday.
—Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 7 Dec. 2024
And there was always a green salad served with a selection of oil, vinegar, and seasonings so everyone at the table could dress their own (a method that confounded me, the child of a balsamic vinaigrette lover).
—Ellen Fort, Saveur, 3 Oct. 2024
On her debut, Minaj rapped ferociously and sang earnestly – sometimes in the same song – a combination of skills that, coupled with the sparkly beats of Drew Money, Swizz Beatz, and Pop & Oak, confounded those who encountered her on a vibe closer to The Come Up DVD.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confounded
Adjective
-
Slavery had a cursed past, and a present to be tolerated, but no future.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Diana, originally a student in the classic series, is now a doctor navigating her supernatural powers, a cursed love triangle, and a far more sensual storyline - complete with steamy scenes that are a bold departure from the chaste kisses of 35 years ago.—
Veronica Villafañe,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The stories went viral, touching off tens of thousands of angry comments from users who were equally perplexed and dismayed over the loss of any piece of the city's already meager urban canopy.—
Vanessa Romo,
NPR,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Ellie seemed perplexed when she was told by police that her father was missing.—
Lauren A. White,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Apart from the odd bewildered tourist or local going about their day, the vast majority of people in the carriage were heading to what most regarded as a ‘must-win’ match at home to Everton and the vibe, like the team’s results in 2025, was mixed.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Every lap felt like a mind-numbing carousel ride through car exhaust and past bewildered pedestrians, while inhaling burrito-scented air.—
Marley Dickinson,
Outside Online,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Many people get confused by these forms which contain code and jargon that rarely offer a clear explanation of anything.—
Steve Weisman,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
-
Not to be confused with DEI training, skill building is a way to help people improve their communication skills, negotiation style and overall understanding of relevant topics, all while leveling up professionally.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes,
21 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
There are competing stories that the Los Angeles Angels offered Kim a five-year, $28 million guarantee, but Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register has refuted that report.—
Dan Freedman,
Forbes,
4 Jan. 2025
-
The White House, through White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates, refuted many of the claims the Journal made, insisting that Biden would meet often with his Cabinet members and their teams.—
Gord Magill,
Newsweek,
19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Chasing perfection this offseason required Webb to tweak the pitch that, ironically, most baffled hitters.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Surrounding the headliners are grumpy arena security, who spend the night wearing baffled expressions watching a sea of adults cheer and laugh and applaud over imaginary characters engaged in battles no one can actually see, and rolls of acrylic dice just 16 millimeters in size.—
Eric Francisco,
Rolling Stone,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The feeling in the crowd was a kind of dazed submission.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
-
While fielding applause at her Symphony Center show on Friday, harpist Brandee Younger made a dazed confession.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Smith unsuccessfully challenged Simpson for his congressional seat in the Republican primaries in 2014 and again in 2022.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
16 Mar. 2025
-
There is the love of Irish and Mexican dance traditions, love challenged by evil sorcerers and family dynamics and the passionate love that ends in tragedy.—
Marcia Luttrell,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confounded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confounded. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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