1
as in baffling
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 embarrassing
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 confusing
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related
I think you've confounded astrology with astronomy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in refuting
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
as in perplexing
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confounding
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
The offense’s struggles are the most confounding.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Tuesday will go down as one of Boston’s most confounding losses of the season, a 4-3 defeat in 11 innings to the Baltimore Orioles in which the club went 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
The tale of Rip Van Winkle is nested within various layers of storytelling, to a degree that can be confounding even for contemporary readers accustomed to such authorial gamesmanship.
—John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Penn State’s Drew Shelton is another confounding tackle prospect.
—Dane Brugler, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
That sort of effect from what meteorologists call outflow could be a confounding factor as the situation unfolds because existing forecast models don’t re-create it realistically, Gerard says.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 26 Sep. 2025
Here, hot weather is the confounding variable leading to both outcomes.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 23 Sep. 2025
This provided a simple way to skirt confounding variables, such as genetics and environmental factors, to which siblings would have similar exposure.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2025
And a truly confounding TV experience.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 22 Sep. 2025
And yet, the discovery represents a confounding moment.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
What is the most confounding and terrible, however, is Gretchen’s assertion that Slade, the anti-Viagra, doesn’t get involved with the women on his own accord, but only engages because the women always talk about him.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
The offense’s struggles are the most confounding.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Tuesday will go down as one of Boston’s most confounding losses of the season, a 4-3 defeat in 11 innings to the Baltimore Orioles in which the club went 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Explaining exactly why this particular trend, like so many confounding memes and viral nonsense, will travel unbelievably far on the web, and elsewhere, is as easy as painting wind.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
The tale of Rip Van Winkle is nested within various layers of storytelling, to a degree that can be confounding even for contemporary readers accustomed to such authorial gamesmanship.
—John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Penn State’s Drew Shelton is another confounding tackle prospect.
—Dane Brugler, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
That sort of effect from what meteorologists call outflow could be a confounding factor as the situation unfolds because existing forecast models don’t re-create it realistically, Gerard says.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 26 Sep. 2025
Here, hot weather is the confounding variable leading to both outcomes.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 23 Sep. 2025
This provided a simple way to skirt confounding variables, such as genetics and environmental factors, to which siblings would have similar exposure.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2025
And a truly confounding TV experience.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 22 Sep. 2025
And yet, the discovery represents a confounding moment.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confounding
Verb
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Gen Alpha’s latest viral catchphrase is baffling adults and delighting kids across the country.—
Kimberly Richardson,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
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But the immediacy around these conversations about the Titans are baffling to me.—
Nick Suss,
Nashville Tennessean,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, the heist spotlights embarrassing security failings at one of France’s most venerable institutions.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
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The New York Mets fell short of the postseason in embarrassing fashion last season, so this offseason is going to be more important than ever.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This was out of respect for me, and also to avoid confusing the children.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
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Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is among those coaches expected to get real consideration in next year's head-coaching cycle, and his propensity for confusing young QBs is well known across the NFL.—
Max Dible,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Michaels took to her Instagram days after the release of Fit for TV to post a series of screenshots of text chains, email threads, and other pieces of documentation refuting or otherwise complicating each claim leveled at her.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Oct. 2025
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Health experts and medical organizations are refuting claims of a link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism.—
Beth Warren,
Nashville Tennessean,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In a whirlwind year for the organization, his slump was one of the more perplexing developments.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
18 Oct. 2025
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Yet the latest season has had a perplexing schedule.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The mystery is less about who’s involved in the game afoot, as alert audiences piecing together context clues will be immediately aware of those nefarious parties upon their introductions, and is more about the puzzling lengths the filmmakers go to in planting contrived red herrings.—
Courtney Howard,
Variety,
9 Oct. 2025
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This was particularly puzzling given that the program had highlighted other former players who had standout performances that same day, but the reason why quickly emerged.—
Cole Sullivan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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What Happens Next The Justice Department is expected to appeal Cummings’ ruling to the Seventh Circuit, challenging his authority to threaten contempt against federal agents.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
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Her transgender son is a plaintiff in a 2022 lawsuit challenging the state’s bathroom ban.—
Jennifer Smith Richards,
ProPublica,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Ryan argues that Cooper’s decision to operate the camera himself (with Matthew Libatique serving as DP) leads to some directorial self-indulgence that makes for a frustrating, muddled experience that could’ve used more editorial discipline.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 Oct. 2025
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The muddled sound, uncharacteristic for this venue, didn’t help matters.—
Ross Raihala,
Twin Cities,
11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confounding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confounding. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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