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
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Recent Examples of confused
Dave Smith, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
But ChatGPT sometimes overemphasized or underemphasized findings, and a small but significant number of responses indicated patients were more confused after reading the summaries, said Honce, who participated in the preprint study.
—Kate Ruder, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025
That drug is known to metabolize into the identical psych profile an anabolic steroid will produce … Not making excuses or asking for a pass, just putting it out there as a detail that may have been confused with a laundry list of other potential suspects.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confused
Adjective
The youthful Oklahoma City Thunder celebrated their first NBA championship in June and endured widespread mockery from the internet when most of them were confused and then disgusted by their first taste of champagne.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
But ChatGPT sometimes overemphasized or underemphasized findings, and a small but significant number of responses indicated patients were more confused after reading the summaries, said Honce, who participated in the preprint study.
—Kate Ruder, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
That is not to be confused with Shildt or anyone else not recognizing the Padres do need to win more.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025
That drug is known to metabolize into the identical psych profile an anabolic steroid will produce … Not making excuses or asking for a pass, just putting it out there as a detail that may have been confused with a laundry list of other potential suspects.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confused
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confused
Adjective
-
With the success of TV shows like Hacks and The White Lotus, which explore the beautifully complicated, often messy inner lives of women who don’t fit the ingenue mold, perhaps more production companies will take chances on similar shows.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Jars of thick honey can feel messy or impractical for travel.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Everybody seems bewildered by this news, his own wife most of all.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Layered in cream, bruised, bewildered, bald.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
From Scepticism to Confidence In my discussions, executives often admit being puzzled about how to approach AI.—
London School of Economics,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The move has puzzled many since ending the program would bar every company, including oil firms, from accessing federal subsidies for capturing carbon or producing hydrogen fuel.—
Natasha Bracken,
semafor.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For Donohue, a one-on-one discussion with Hunt and a later meeting with his constituents further complicated his decision.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Defining a tip in the digital creative space could be complicated, said Alex Muresianu, a senior policy analyst at the Tax Foundation.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The lenses were so long and the cameras so far back, in fact, that on occasion the local police mistook the film’s action for the real thing.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Phoenix police detained a man after National Guard members mistook him for bringing unexploded ordnance to the Papago Park Military Reservation for disposal as a bomb threat.—
Perry Vandell,
AZCentral.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
After the Detroit Tigers embarrassed them in two games, outscoring them 23-3 earlier this week, the Yankees have won the first two games of their series against the Boston Red Sox.—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
-
We wouldn’t be embarrassed by it, nor would the audience.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Europe accelerated spending on renewables and energy efficiency after Russia's invasion of Ukraine disrupted natural gas supplies.—
Jeff Young,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Foreign business confidence in China has declined since Covid-19 when pandemic restrictions disrupted supply chains — the domestic economy has remained sluggish, dragged down by a real estate slump and overcapacity in industrial sectors.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The Creative Arts Emmys, held on September 6 and 7, had already handed out several exciting awards, including for Bryan Cranston’s guest turn on The Studio and Julianne Nicholson’s chaotic arc on Hacks.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
15 Sep. 2025
-
After several chaotic minutes with no cell phone service, mother and daughter finally reunited next to the plaza.—
Rick Jervis,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confused. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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