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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confounded
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
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
His remarks have confounded Danish and Greenlandic officials.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Even if the jokes sometimes confounded people.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Netflix , meanwhile, remains a long-standing holding because the company has repeatedly confounded predictions of its demise.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 18 Nov. 2025
Without Irving available, Dallas head coach Jason Kidd has struggled to fully trust new point guard D'Angelo Russell (a summer signing by Harrison), whose trick-or-treat offense and lackluster defense have confounded several of his prior NBA stops.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
Surely there exist teenagers, as confounded by their classmates’ fascination with the number 67 as their parents, who simply Googled it.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2025
Travelers confounded by flight cancellations that may soon cascade across the system.
—ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025
But teasing apart why that happens is difficult, because human studies are confounded by so many factors – diet, smoking stress, lifestyle.
—New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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
And no defense has confounded a stout Denver front this season like Los Angeles.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
His remarks have confounded Danish and Greenlandic officials.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Even if the jokes sometimes confounded people.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Netflix , meanwhile, remains a long-standing holding because the company has repeatedly confounded predictions of its demise.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 18 Nov. 2025
Without Irving available, Dallas head coach Jason Kidd has struggled to fully trust new point guard D'Angelo Russell (a summer signing by Harrison), whose trick-or-treat offense and lackluster defense have confounded several of his prior NBA stops.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
Surely there exist teenagers, as confounded by their classmates’ fascination with the number 67 as their parents, who simply Googled it.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2025
Travelers confounded by flight cancellations that may soon cascade across the system.
—ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025
But teasing apart why that happens is difficult, because human studies are confounded by so many factors – diet, smoking stress, lifestyle.
—New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confounded
Adjective
-
Are the Ducks … drumroll please … cursed?—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Notably, season 2 concludes with the Shibuya Incident, an event that left Tokyo in ruins and resulted in cursed spirits killing civilians across the city, according to Crunchyroll.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Fallon, slightly perplexed and towering over Williams, awaits instruction.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Those late audits have caused ongoing comments by engaged residents who are perplexed that year after year the town’s government is not able to provide the same audit the state’s other 168 municipalities complete and submit to the public and the state’s budget office.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The usually positive Gauff went negative, lacked energy and seemed bewildered and overwhelmed.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Since his starring days at Gonzaga, Timme has earned bewildered double takes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Later novels routinely took inspiration from family members or former or current lovers; the 1980 novel that baffled Frank Kermode is a dreamlike fable about a man guiltily trying to have an extramarital affair.—
Christopher Tayler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Instead, Chan's team taught Liu how to juggle, which baffled her.—
Daysia Tolentino,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
During our first visit, Maryam, embarrassed by her English, refused to ask the salesperson a question.—
Jennifer Obel,
Denver Post,
12 Jan. 2026
-
We’re all supposed to be embarrassed by prizes or feel above them or apart from them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The show is Finding Her Edge, a new ice skating drama that should not be confused with Spinning Out, another Netflix ice skating drama that was cancelled after one season.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Judicial warrants should not be confused with administrative warrants, which are signed by immigration officers.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Councilmember Ted Bui refuted those concerns and maintained his vocal support of adopting a charter.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The lawmakers have refuted those claims, arguing that the probe is an act of political intimidation.—
Elena Moore,
NPR,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
More than anything, though, Jessie is someone who clearly just really freaking loves to crosscountry ski.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
7 Jan. 2026
-
My freaking customers are now fans.—
Ana Colón,
Glamour,
18 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confounded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confounded. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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