Synonyms of confuses

confuses

verb

present tense third-person singular of confuse

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

• perplexes
• bewilders
• baffles
• puzzles
• embarrasses
• befuddles
• mystifies
• confounds
• muddles
• vexes
• disorients
• bothers
• disturbs
• bemuses
• flummoxes
• stuns
• discombobulates
• muddies
• poses
• flusters
• rattles
• upsets
• bamboozles
• gets
• fuddles
• unsettles
• addles
• beats
• mazes
• befogs
• gravels
• foxes
• buffaloes
• disconcerts
• blows one's mind
• misleads
• agitates
• sticks
• deceives
• discomfits
• distresses
• mortifies
• perturbs
• dismays
• disquiets
• goes to one's head
• stumps
• deludes
• unhinges
• fazes
• nonpluses
• misguides
• beguiles
• abashes
• discountenances
• fools
• weirds out
• tricks
• chagrins
• discomposes
• hoodwinks
• discomforts
• dupes
• strings along
• snows
• takes in
• humbugs
• hoaxes
• cozens
• gulls

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• assures
• satisfies
• informs
• reassures
• enlightens

2

as in complicates

to make (something) unclear to the understanding

stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts

Synonyms & Similar Words

• complicates
• blurs
• muddies
• obfuscates
• disrupts
• clouds
• beclouds
• upsets
• perplexes
• fogs
• disturbs
• befogs
• snarls
• muddles
• scrambles
• tangles
• disorders
• jumbles
• entangles
• disarranges
• shuffles
• sophisticates
• tousles
• mixes (up)
• disarrays
• messes (up)
• discomposes
• dishevels

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clarifies
• illuminates
• simplifies
• clears (up)
• streamlines
• unravels
• undoes
• analyzes
• straightens (out)
• decodes
• disentangles
• untangles
• breaks down
• unscrambles
• deciphers

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

• mistakes
• conflates
• confounds
• mixes (up)
• misapplies
• misidentifies
• lumps (together)
• misnames
• miscalls

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• differences
• distinguishes
• separates
• differentiates
• discriminates

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

• embarrasses
• flusters
• bothers
• disturbs
• rattles
• disconcerts
• unsettles
• confounds
• mortifies
• upsets
• discomfits
• fazes
• humiliates
• distresses
• discountenances
• perturbs
• abashes
• nonpluses
• disquiets
• dismays
• agitates
• shames
• unhinges
• demeans
• humbles
• degrades
• discomforts
• debases
• puts off
• chagrins
• discomposes
• puts out
• queers

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• relieves
• calms
• soothes
• encourages
• comforts
• cheers
• consoles
• assures
• reassures
• buoys
• emboldens
• heartens

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

• disrupts
• disturbs
• shuffles
• upsets
• muddles
• jumbles
• disorganizes
• disorders
• scrambles
• disarranges
• snarls
• dislocates
• deranges
• tousles
• mixes (up)
• tumbles
• unsettles
• clutters
• disarrays
• tangles
• messes (up)
• hashes
• musses
• rumples
• discomposes
• perturbs
• embroils
• disjoints
• dishevels
• entangles
• agitates
• stirs (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• regulates
• disposes
• organizes
• arranges
• ranges
• aligns
• lines
• orders
• tidies
• classifies
• straightens (up)
• draws up
• codifies
• marshals
• adjusts
• systematizes
• arrays
• lines up
• queues
• fixes
• makes up
• systemizes
• methodizes
• grooms
• spruces (up)
• unscrambles

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of confuses

Any adversary who confuses media noise with American weakness will discover the truth the hard way. — Michael Loria, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026

These opportunists drown out the core mission, creating a cacophony of competing voices that confuses donors, crowd the inboxes of CEOs and members of Congress with colliding petitions, and paralyzes meaningful action by draining critical funding and attention away from the truly effective groups. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026

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

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