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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
Specifically, Archaeology News continues, that aquatic organisms living in hard water can absorb carbon, which contributed to the older dates, which confounded archaeologists for years.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 21 Feb. 2026
The story has confounded investigators, at least as far as is publicly known.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 16 Feb. 2026
The administration’s apparent fixation on Denmark has confounded members of Congress, with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle questioning why HHS is modeling its policies after the Scandinavian country.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
Ecuador leading Australia on home courts in Quito, where the altitude and switch to clay from hard courts confounded James Duckworth and Rinky Hijikata against Alvaro Guillen Meza and Andres Andrade.
—James Hansen, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Amid a wave of high-profile killings and political violence in the United States, investigators have been confounded regularly by the absence of a recognizable agenda.
—Peter Whoriskey, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2026
But Goggin and other energy experts told CNN they have been confounded by the administration’s claims that electricity from coal is affordable.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
And no defense has confounded a stout Denver front this season like Los Angeles.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 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
Two years later, and Sunak has confounded the sceptics.
—Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
Specifically, Archaeology News continues, that aquatic organisms living in hard water can absorb carbon, which contributed to the older dates, which confounded archaeologists for years.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 21 Feb. 2026
The story has confounded investigators, at least as far as is publicly known.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 16 Feb. 2026
The administration’s apparent fixation on Denmark has confounded members of Congress, with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle questioning why HHS is modeling its policies after the Scandinavian country.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
Ecuador leading Australia on home courts in Quito, where the altitude and switch to clay from hard courts confounded James Duckworth and Rinky Hijikata against Alvaro Guillen Meza and Andres Andrade.
—James Hansen, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Amid a wave of high-profile killings and political violence in the United States, investigators have been confounded regularly by the absence of a recognizable agenda.
—Peter Whoriskey, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2026
But Goggin and other energy experts told CNN they have been confounded by the administration’s claims that electricity from coal is affordable.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
And no defense has confounded a stout Denver front this season like Los Angeles.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confounded
Adjective
-
Ru awards it to the crew for having to watch the entirety of what must have been the most cursed puppet show since Being John Malkovich.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The major hubs are bad in all the predictable ways, but America’s smaller airports are each cursed and tragic in their own exquisite style.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
As the recruits push through the toughest weeks of training, the narrative occasionally cuts to TV news reports of an asteroid entering Earth's atmosphere, leaving NASA utterly perplexed.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Reporters at the press conference, perplexed, asked Trump about the gap.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There was no punchline, no twist — just the straightforward, slightly bewildered observation that someone, somewhere, had performed surgery on a grape.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Exasperated, bewildered, and realizing other musicians were also dealing with this, Bender came up with a way to show just how porous the system was.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
No one, not even Jason — who is baffled at the galley’s sudden collapse — is more surprised at Ellie’s outburst than Ben.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
-
On Sunday, Roan responded on Instagram, seemingly baffled by the swirling controversy.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Former head coach Brian Daboll’s charge to the medical tent and behavior towards one of the Giants’ doctors also embarrassed the team.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Tonight’s ceremony had none of the major dramatic mishaps that have both embarrassed the Academy Awards’ organizers and affirmed the event’s status as must-see live TV.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And now New Idea is reporting that Baker’s ex, Rebecca Rigg, who is very close to Kidman, is a bit confused by the situation.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
30 Mar. 2026
-
In addition, DraftKings argues that consumers aren’t confused by DraftKings’ use of March Madness.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The investigation is based on debunked fraud claims, as local election officials have already refuted the allegations of discrepancies by explaining that the citizens group’s analysis relied on incomplete data.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Jones, who lived in San Francisco for years before moving to Napa, refuted the insinuation of carpetbagging.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
To have to come and be in this particular bracket every freaking year is unacceptable.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Pair the fuzzy crewneck top and subtle kick-flare pants with chic platform sneakers or breathable, on-trend Mary Janes (this pair from Rothy’s is so freaking comfortable).—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confounded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confounded. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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