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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of confused
Marta Balaga, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Security immediately tackled a suspect to the ground, but the would-be leader of Iran seemed confused by the fray.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 23 Apr. 2026
Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
But this should not be confused with fidelity or long-term commitment.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confused
Adjective
The world is in crisis at the moment, and there are many people out there who feel scared and confused.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Security immediately tackled a suspect to the ground, but the would-be leader of Iran seemed confused by the fray.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
The debut of the Chicago White Stockings (now White Sox) — not to be confused with the previous White Stockings, which later became the Cubs — was also the first American League game.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
But this should not be confused with fidelity or long-term commitment.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confused
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confused
Adjective
-
The internet’s onetime lovably messy provocateur has indeed turned over a new leaf, personally and professionally, and entered her Brand Safe era.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
-
But the move comes at a particularly messy time in Puig’s life.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Garcia says, acting out the usual blush of so many bewildered men.—
Darío Gael Blanco,
Vanity Fair,
25 Apr. 2026
-
My mother looked bewildered and even Father looked up.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The mass unemployment everyone feared is still missing Initial jobless claims rose to 214,000 in the most recent week surveyed but the overall trend remains down and Wall Street is slightly puzzled as to why.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The city’s handling of its project to improve Clairemont’s Olive Grove Park, which has been underway for nearly two years, has left the community puzzled.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Chief Deputy Medical Examiner Jonathan Lucas concluded that Patton’s death was an accident caused by acute bacterial bronchopneumonia complicated by influenza A, with substance use disorder and the effects of methadone listed as contributing factors.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The injury to Polanco has complicated the Mets’ plan to replace longtime first baseman Pete Alonso, who left in the offseason for a five-year, $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
About 90 minutes after the lockdown took effect, the Naval Academy’s deputy commandant emailed students, telling them that as law enforcement worked to secure the school, a midshipman mistook police for a threat and engaged them, according to the official.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Curtain calls In 1999, a male hippo in rut apparently mistook a passing tractor at a French zoo for a rival and smashed through his enclosure fencing.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Fitzpatrick and Team Europe embarrassed Team USA at Bethpage Black in the Fall.—
Mark Harris OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The transparency issue also became important after the board embarrassed itself by quietly boosting board members’ pay by 25% — with Foley being the only member opposed.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The United Nations Development Programme reports that higher energy prices, disrupted food systems, and economic slowdowns triggered by the war could push up to thirty-two million people globally into poverty.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Disasters threaten treatment The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration works with states to ensure that access to opioid use disorder medication isn't disrupted, Health and Human Services spokesperson Emily Hilliard said.—
Andrew Jones,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The ex-con who shot NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller to death during a chaotic Queens car stop was hit Monday with the maximum sentence of 115 years to life behind bars.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
With less than a year until Chicago’s next mayoral election and amid a growing field of prospective candidates, more city residents hold a dim view of incumbent Brandon Johnson than a positive one about his often-chaotic first term at City Hall, a new poll shows.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confused. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
