1
as in perplexes
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the similar-sounding words "censure" and "censor" often confuse people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complicates
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mistakes
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 embarrasses
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 disrupts
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 confuses
The whole concept of toxic fandom confuses me because, outside of the anger and backwards thinking, because who cares about a movie franchise that much?
—
Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
The herb’s fragrance confuses and deters pests from eating your peppers.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2026
Mercury’s clash with Neptune confuses intentions.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 3 June 2026
That fragments talent, confuses stakeholders and delays measurable outcomes.
—Ashwin Gaidhani, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
If a portal confuses you, call the provider, pharmacy or insurance plan directly using the number on your card or the official website.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
The odor masks the scent of animals' preferred vegetables and confuses insect pests, including aphids, carrot flies, cabbage worms and loopers, spider mites, thrips, and Japanese beetles.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 3 May 2026
The low-performing chefs are Rhoda, whose lamb confuses the kids; Sherry, whose grits were oddly flavored; and Oscar, whose puff pastry soaked up all the deep-fryer oil.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026
Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policy Go somewhere that confuses your algorithm.
—Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 10 Mar. 2026
Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
The herb’s fragrance confuses and deters pests from eating your peppers.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2026
Mercury’s clash with Neptune confuses intentions.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 3 June 2026
That fragments talent, confuses stakeholders and delays measurable outcomes.
—Ashwin Gaidhani, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
If a portal confuses you, call the provider, pharmacy or insurance plan directly using the number on your card or the official website.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
The odor masks the scent of animals' preferred vegetables and confuses insect pests, including aphids, carrot flies, cabbage worms and loopers, spider mites, thrips, and Japanese beetles.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 3 May 2026
The low-performing chefs are Rhoda, whose lamb confuses the kids; Sherry, whose grits were oddly flavored; and Oscar, whose puff pastry soaked up all the deep-fryer oil.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026
Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policy Go somewhere that confuses your algorithm.
—Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuses
Verb
-
But the unknown in that equation is what perplexes the Mavericks and has the team stuck for now.—
Tim Cowlishaw,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Levinson’s structural lens complicates this in an important way.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
-
Downstream lithography and ion implantation steps are also more demanding than for silicon, partly because SiC’s hardness complicates polishing and etch uniformity.—
Aditya Jadhav,
Interesting Engineering,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Huxley’s critique is clear; America mistakes body for spirit, promiscuously confusing the physical with the metaphysical.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
-
When Ava interrupts to bring Deborah her cell phone, Kelly mistakes Ava for Deborah’s girlfriend and has a new understanding of her foe.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Graft inquiry embarrasses Zelensky Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said in a Telegram announcement that the investigation into Yermak is ongoing.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
Now the technology embarrasses an umpire even more than a player could, and what’s the recourse?—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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El Niño, however, is associated with higher vertical wind shear in the Atlantic, which disrupts this process.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
1 June 2026
-
The more established the team’s reputation, the less anyone wants to be the one who disrupts it.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Nandi is experiencing severe insomnia, tremors and psychosis, and her quickly deteriorating condition bewilders the emergency room staff.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The designs were puckish and gender-bending, evoking both awe and repulsion—the sort of clothing that titillates lovers of conceptual fashion and bewilders the uninitiated.—
Ana Karina Zatarain,
New Yorker,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This beefy laptop blurs the line between an elite mobile gaming rig and a local-AI workstation.—
John Burek,
PC Magazine,
29 May 2026
-
That doctrine blurs the line between soldier and civilian.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
Verb
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But Kennedy’s initiative conflates that genuine clinical need with claims unsupported by evidence — and some that are actively dangerous.—
Jonathan Slater,
STAT,
13 May 2026
-
Equating blanket surveillance with public safety conflates convenience with necessity.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuses. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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