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
If the concept confuses, check out their podcast.
—
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2026
No one confuses kilowatt-hours with productivity, yet no serious economy flies blind without tracking them.
—Noosheen Hashemi, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
Where the Roma obscured the line between a classic grand tourer and a sports car with supercar tendencies, the Amalfi confuses things further.
—Jonny Lieberman, Robb Report, 17 Jan. 2026
So everyone confuses literal with figurative; literally, who cares?
—Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 16 Jan. 2026
In professional sports, no one confuses being injury-free with being competition-ready.
—Karl Moore, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Red Rising is a book that seems to confuses some politically right-leaning readers, something which frustrates but doesn’t surprise Abughazaleh.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 19 Dec. 2025
Mars’ clash with Neptune clouds your judgment and confuses your intuition.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 14 Dec. 2025
Thankfully, this maneuver confuses the Demo long enough for Ted to walk into the house after noticing flickering lights.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2025
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2026
No one confuses kilowatt-hours with productivity, yet no serious economy flies blind without tracking them.
—Noosheen Hashemi, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
Where the Roma obscured the line between a classic grand tourer and a sports car with supercar tendencies, the Amalfi confuses things further.
—Jonny Lieberman, Robb Report, 17 Jan. 2026
So everyone confuses literal with figurative; literally, who cares?
—Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 16 Jan. 2026
In professional sports, no one confuses being injury-free with being competition-ready.
—Karl Moore, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Red Rising is a book that seems to confuses some politically right-leaning readers, something which frustrates but doesn’t surprise Abughazaleh.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 19 Dec. 2025
Mars’ clash with Neptune clouds your judgment and confuses your intuition.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 14 Dec. 2025
Thankfully, this maneuver confuses the Demo long enough for Ted to walk into the house after noticing flickering lights.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2025
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
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This inconsistency complicates analysis and may be intentional, amplifying deterrent perception.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Political rhetoric often further complicates the picture.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Homebuyers should know which mistakes to protect themselves from to improve their chances of borrowing success this March.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
-
In the end, Gail mistakes Paul for a burglar and sends a mob of angry neighbors after him.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Their team might need the firmer assessment that challenges pride and even embarrasses, then the next year's group might need a lighter touch.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Maia and her boyfriend Dylan (Josh Hustcherson) are on the outs after Maia completely embarrasses herself at Dylan’s game night with his co-workers.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Daylight saving time disrupts the circadian rhythms of the human body, and the abrupt time change has been linked to higher risk of mood disorders and heart diseases, according to the organization.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
3 Mar. 2026
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All of these subtle discomforts can lead to more tossing and turning, creating a ripple effect that disrupts your sleep and your energy level the following day.—
Kate Van Pelt,
The Spruce,
3 Mar. 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
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The liquid bronzer also features light-diffusing silica that softly blurs texture, and antioxidant-rich elderberry pairs with soothing botanicals like evening primrose to help keep dry, mature skin comfortable.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
5 Mar. 2026
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All-day dining at The Common Room blurs culinary boundaries to curate an exceptional selection of prime cuts, succulent seafood, and specialty dishes, each meticulously prepared and enhanced with local flair.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This entire season has dissected the way that modern society conflates existential and economic purpose.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Given that women in other countries do wear lipstick as an act of resistance today, suggesting that American feminists did so in 1912 conflates their wildly different cultural contexts, and blurs one’s sense of what constitutes public dissidence.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuses. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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