1
as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
the cans were lying in a confused jumble in the basement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion
she was briefly confused after her fall from the horse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in puzzled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the similar-sounding words "censure" and "censor" often confuse people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complicated
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mistook
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related
a lot of people confuse popular fame with enduring achievement
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in embarrassed
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
she was confused by the shocking bluntness of his marriage proposal
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in disrupted
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
vandals had hopelessly confused the papers in the office files
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confused
Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
The confused drivers darting across three lanes to an exit that was there last month, but has now vanished.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Greta Cross, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
Many, as a result, were confused — especially because FIFA did not publish stadium maps or prices ahead of time.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confused
Adjective
Pangan, 28, who lives in Torrance, felt confused that her friend who lives in Orange County was able to get desirable cheap tickets for swimming, track and tennis.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
The confused drivers darting across three lanes to an exit that was there last month, but has now vanished.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
Promoted on Panera's social media, the Salad Stuffers have received mixed feedback, with some looking forward to trying the new bread-salad combo, while others are confused by it.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
Many, as a result, were confused — especially because FIFA did not publish stadium maps or prices ahead of time.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confused
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confused
Adjective
-
Such implications could have a chilling effect on the reporting of such crimes by partners and spouses locked into messy and tumultuous relationships.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Despite going through a messy divorce, the former couple remain good friends.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This sometimes left audience members bewildered about what had actually happened.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The passenger in the back eventually looked up from her phone, noticed Louise, and locked eyes with this bewildered-looking woman blocking the crosswalk.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There are, however, many lacunae in Paul’s writing and life that have puzzled readers.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
But how Bhuva's name came to be listed on reimbursements for at least 2,800 patients across 126 California hospices in 2024 is a question that has puzzled advocates who have tracked the unusual explosion of hospice providers in Southern California in recent years.—
Grace Manthey,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
From there, things get complicated based on where the fuel is taxed — at fuel terminals, say, or when distributors buy or sell fuel — and depending on various agreements between states and tribes.—
Mead Gruver,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The Middle East conflict has complicated the Fed's rate-setting approach, as the central bank weighs the lasting price impact of the energy shock.—
Sarah Min,Sean Conlon,Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Either during or just after that exchange of gunfire, the Vincennes crew mistook a passing civilian Airbus passenger jet for an Iranian F-14 fighter.—
Jeffrey Fields,
The Conversation,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The company mistook its own good publicity for mass-market success, Fortune’s Phil Wahba writes.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And, as if embarrassed by the whole business, the show will do something crazy to blast the tear from your eye.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Wilzig told the Miami Herald in a 2002 profile that intercourse and naked bodies were beautiful and natural, and no one should be embarrassed by talking about the topic.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Richardson said that the loss of grizzlies disrupted the state’s ecosystems and eliminated an animal that was so synonymous with California that its image remains on the state flag, on water bottles and in the names of its university teams.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The vaccination campaign for measles was disrupted during Bangladesh's recent political upheavals.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Set in 1953 after the titular dictator’s passing, the film revels in the chaotic, messy, bumbling power struggle that ensues among figures like Nikita Khrushchev (Steve Buscemi) and Georgy Malenkov (Jeffrey Tambor).—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The venue was the sprawling Serena Hotel, an oasis within what is already a bubble provided by Islamabad, a leafy city of broad boulevards that feels detached from the rest of Pakistan, an often chaotic country of 240 million people.—
Saeed Shah,
Time,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confused. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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