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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complicated
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts
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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
Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
What was turbulent and confused in me came out as absurd and ornate in him.
—Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026
Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 23 Feb. 2026
Tesla's attorneys alleged that the DMV never proved consumers in the state had been confused about whether its cars were safe to drive without a human at the wheel.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confused
Adjective
Bondi, however, appeared confused about which case the court was ruling on this week.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
What was turbulent and confused in me came out as absurd and ornate in him.
—Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
These earrings are often confused by a pair of sapphire and diamond earrings once owned and worn by Princess Diana—which Kate also wears from time to time.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 23 Feb. 2026
Tesla's attorneys alleged that the DMV never proved consumers in the state had been confused about whether its cars were safe to drive without a human at the wheel.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confused
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confused
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, at the Milan Fashion Week show, the star embraced an edgy aesthetic with a messy low ponytail and smudged black eyeliner with smoky navy eyeshadow.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
26 Feb. 2026
-
That unfolding intra-family fight is messy, to put it mildly, but one that Democrats are relishing.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Olivier tried successfully to get the reader to understand how a gentle, pacific young man could come to kill more than a thousand people, and so capturing the tone and empathetic portrayal not only of Simo Häyhä and his colleagues but also of the often-bewildered Russian soldiers was essential.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The usually positive Gauff went negative, lacked energy and seemed bewildered and overwhelmed.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The poor rott just stood there with its tail tucked between its legs, puzzled.—
Andrew Norman Wilson,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
-
When reflecting on the details that struck her most about the home, Kayne points to the mix of materials—spruce panels in the bedroom, river rocks puzzled onto the bathroom counter, and walls of glass that invite the outdoors in.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Her ink stains cohered into easily recognizable signs—butterflies, fighter jets, bodies of water, landmasses—that were complicated by text printed atop them.—
Daniel R. Quiles,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Jumping into Caudill’s 10-year-old case has been complicated.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And Petrecca mistook Brazil’s delegation for Bulgaria’s.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Others mistook Caesar’s top-down approach for a desire to replace the Republic with a monarchy.—
Paul Vanderbroeck,
Big Think,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The team embarrassed Canada, 5-0, in the preliminary round, and swept the North American neighbor in four straight Olympic tune-ups.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The case has deeply embarrassed the royal family, especially his mother, who suffers from an incurable lung illness and who is torn between her role as mother and future queen.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The business for L’Oréal — a bellwether — remained soft in 2025, especially due to the channel in China being temporarily disrupted by the suspension of the duty-free members app Sunrise and a change in domestic airport operators.—
Jennifer Weil,
Footwear News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara flights have continued to be disrupted, with the alert citing flight-crew availability.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The creative chaotic Ever enter a room that looks like a mess to you, but its inhabitant knows exactly where everything is?—
Julianna Chen,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Arab leaders have sought to calm nationals and expatriate residents who chose to move to the Persian Gulf region for stability, safety and the promise of prosperity, but who are increasingly growing uneasy as the conflict becomes more chaotic.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confused. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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