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
Sarah Dahlberg, NBC news, 6 Jan. 2026
Video footage from the rescue showed a firefighter wading towards the confused animal and grabbing it before the two were pulled back to the shore via the attached ropes.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
Parents may have also confused the vitamin injection with a vaccine.
—Dr. Jade Cobern, ABC News, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confused
Adjective
The family believes Dan experienced a possible stroke or medical event that left him confused and disoriented before his disappearance.
—Sarah Dahlberg, NBC news, 6 Jan. 2026
Video footage from the rescue showed a firefighter wading towards the confused animal and grabbing it before the two were pulled back to the shore via the attached ropes.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
The trip started after Spoelstra moved Ware to the bench and then called out Ware’s lack of consistency, comments that confused Ware and then were clarified by Spoelstra.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
Parents may have also confused the vitamin injection with a vaccine.
—Dr. Jade Cobern, ABC News, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confused
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confused
Adjective
-
According to Damien Routely, these include messy ownership of decisions and no reliable view of cash or delivery cadence, which indicate a weak and unclear leadership structure; the inability to properly articulate what the business actually is, and a refusal to listen and assimilate feedback.—
Alison Coleman,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
While a community can often feel divisive, separate, messy, and broken, this event celebrates the truth that those differences can be woven into a beautiful unity of caring and hope, according to a news release.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The usually positive Gauff went negative, lacked energy and seemed bewildered and overwhelmed.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Since his starring days at Gonzaga, Timme has earned bewildered double takes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Although puzzled, Aisha answered honestly.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Like his wife, Moore was puzzled when their friend didn’t show up to eat dinner.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Contrary to popular opinion, getting dressed does not need to be complicated — just take it from Pamela Anderson.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Pedroia’s Hall of Fame candidacy has always been complicated.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Glaser said that during one babysitting gig, Adam Sandler called the Apatow house and mistook her voice for Maude Apatow.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Jan. 2026
-
In another, the bot mistook a mammogram of a benign breast cyst for an image of testicles.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
During our first visit, Maryam, embarrassed by her English, refused to ask the salesperson a question.—
Jennifer Obel,
Denver Post,
12 Jan. 2026
-
We’re all supposed to be embarrassed by prizes or feel above them or apart from them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
American said Monday that five of its nine hub airports were disrupted by the storm, including its largest hub at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.—
Laya Neelakandan,Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
-
If your travel is or was disrupted, here’s what airlines owe you for the inconvenience.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
While navigating Westport by car or on foot is chaotic right now, the goal is to prevent destruction in the future.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Lazy Susans and magnetic spice racks turn chaotic fridges and spice shelves into functional spaces.—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confused. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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