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
But nobody confuses Harvard Extension School classes with the real thing.
—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
23 June 2026
If a neighbor or sibling confuses the thread, summarize and invite a decision.
—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
22 June 2026
There is a version of leadership that confuses visibility with impact, equating big initiatives and dramatic turnarounds with strong leadership.
—
Monica Cutia,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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
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
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
23 June 2026
If a neighbor or sibling confuses the thread, summarize and invite a decision.
—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
22 June 2026
There is a version of leadership that confuses visibility with impact, equating big initiatives and dramatic turnarounds with strong leadership.
—
Monica Cutia,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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
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
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.
Verb
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Critics counter that ranked choice helps candidates game the system, complicates the process, disenfranchises voters such as older adults and communities of color, and takes longer to count, which could fuel conspiracy theories.
-
The instinctive Moon settles into your 4th House of Home, while rule-making Saturn in your 11th House of Friends sets structure, creating a quincunx that complicates plans and messages.
Verb
-
In the end, reverence for the likes of Genghis Khan, Hitler, and Attila the Hun mistakes fear for respect, destruction for disruption, and raw terror for true greatness.
-
At the same time, Carter (Finn Little) mistakes Oreana's (Natalie Alyn Lind) attention for something more.
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.
-
Now the technology embarrasses an umpire even more than a player could, and what’s the recourse?
Verb
-
Each surgery disrupts blood supply to the skin and lays down a new layer of scar tissue, meaning the risks compound with every procedure.
-
Xenotransplantation disrupts this trajectory.
Verb
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For three years straight, he’s kept up a pace that bewilders the industry’s leading comics.
-
The narrator and his wife find that their attachment to the charismatic and cryptic Chibi grows with the cat’s increasing visits, in a way that bewilders them but somehow bonds them closer together.
Verb
-
Critics say the reading list lacks diversity, blurs the separation of church and state that is enshrined in the Constitution and leaves teachers and students with little room to decide what to read.
-
As the line blurs, sometimes exes remain in your life, and friends might become lovers.
Verb
-
Critics argue Hinton conflates perception with experience, stressing consciousness is a first-person fact, not merely a functional process.
-
But Kennedy’s initiative conflates that genuine clinical need with claims unsupported by evidence — and some that are actively dangerous.
Cite this Entry
“Confuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuses. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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