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

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

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