1
as in difficult
Related Words
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in perplexing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in baffling
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the similar-sounding words "censure" and "censor" often confuse people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complicating
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mistaking
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 embarrassing
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 disrupting
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 confusing
Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
When your content is confusing, emotionally charged without context or starts zigzagging into areas that feel off-brand, trust falls apart.
—Claire Bahn, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Today’s astro-weather could bring confusing texts, weird social interactions and moments where people are technically communicating but still missing the point entirely.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Symptoms can overlap and evolve over time, which can feel frustrating or confusing.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
Prices for gas are peaking while a war in Iran is unpopular and confusing for many, polling says.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 14 May 2026
Another area that can be particularly confusing for people taking GLP-1s is the best way to exercise after starting treatment.
—Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 14 May 2026
Even when applied with the best of intentions, labels can be confusing.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 2026
Most people know that exercise is good for their health, but beyond that, the world of exercise and energy can be confusing.
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 13 May 2026
Jill Lawless, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
Clients hiring us for AI narrative work are under investor pressure to move fast, and the cost of confusing speed with substance will show up on their balance sheets.
—Kathleen Lucente, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Cassidy complained Friday that the new primary system enacted last year was confusing voters by requiring them to ask for a partisan ballot instead of the previous all-party primary that had been in place.
—ABC News, 15 May 2026
The hemp business is trickier, said Palmer, due in part to confusing and changing federal and state regulations on the cultivation and production of cannabis.
—William Deffaa, Baltimore Sun, 14 May 2026
Some states’ laws are confusing or vague.
—Allen G. Breed, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
At the same time, confusing social dynamics or crossed wires with friends could leave you overthinking someone’s true intentions.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
The Elegoo Jupiter 2 3D printer shows flashes of excellence with its massive build volume and striking print quality, but uneven automation, confusing UI menus, and a still-maturing workflow limit its appeal.
—Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 2 May 2026
But online as an antidote only works if the sector stops confusing access with quality.
—Ian Gibson, Twin Cities, 1 May 2026
Adjective
As if aware that things are about to get confusing for the audience, writer-director Ritchie throws plenty of narration at us early on, emanating from Rachel Wild (Eiza Gonzalez), the sort of ultra-confident lawyer who clearly dresses for success.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
When your content is confusing, emotionally charged without context or starts zigzagging into areas that feel off-brand, trust falls apart.
—Claire Bahn, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Today’s astro-weather could bring confusing texts, weird social interactions and moments where people are technically communicating but still missing the point entirely.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Symptoms can overlap and evolve over time, which can feel frustrating or confusing.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
Prices for gas are peaking while a war in Iran is unpopular and confusing for many, polling says.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 14 May 2026
Another area that can be particularly confusing for people taking GLP-1s is the best way to exercise after starting treatment.
—Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 14 May 2026
Even when applied with the best of intentions, labels can be confusing.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 2026
Most people know that exercise is good for their health, but beyond that, the world of exercise and energy can be confusing.
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 13 May 2026
Verb
Winners are chosen by a mix of votes from the two, translated into points by a system confusing even to Eurovision fans.
—Jill Lawless, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
Clients hiring us for AI narrative work are under investor pressure to move fast, and the cost of confusing speed with substance will show up on their balance sheets.
—Kathleen Lucente, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Cassidy complained Friday that the new primary system enacted last year was confusing voters by requiring them to ask for a partisan ballot instead of the previous all-party primary that had been in place.
—ABC News, 15 May 2026
The hemp business is trickier, said Palmer, due in part to confusing and changing federal and state regulations on the cultivation and production of cannabis.
—William Deffaa, Baltimore Sun, 14 May 2026
Some states’ laws are confusing or vague.
—Allen G. Breed, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
At the same time, confusing social dynamics or crossed wires with friends could leave you overthinking someone’s true intentions.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
The Elegoo Jupiter 2 3D printer shows flashes of excellence with its massive build volume and striking print quality, but uneven automation, confusing UI menus, and a still-maturing workflow limit its appeal.
—Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 2 May 2026
But online as an antidote only works if the sector stops confusing access with quality.
—Ian Gibson, Twin Cities, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confusing
Adjective
-
When Thomson went through a difficult divorce, in 2014, Djena would often check in on her, showing up at her door with food.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Crow-Armstrong had just failed to make a highly difficult, leaping catch at the wall.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
The right-hander has struggled to maintain his velocity this season, a perplexing trend largely stemming from an inconsistency in his mechanics.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
At the same time, the moon in Pisces makes social dynamics and exchanges more hazy and perplexing, especially with Mercury approaching a semi-square with Neptune in Aries, which will become exact tomorrow morning.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
The slow starts are baffling to Becht.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
As the castle’s internal order collapses under the weight of a string of baffling crimes, Araki strikes a fragile alliance with Kuroda Kanbei – a razor-minded captive languishing in his own dungeon – in a race to root out a traitor before Oda’s army closes in.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Malaysia’s maritime agency says the transfers happen beyond its territorial waters and radar coverage, complicating enforcement efforts, while critics argue the nation is facilitating rather than merely tolerating the trade.—
Eileen Ng,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
-
Because symptoms can take weeks to show up, additional cases could still emerge, complicating public health efforts to contact trace possible exposures and transmission chains.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Their father, Nahuel (Amién), flits from one romantic affair to another, failing to recognize his shortcomings the way fathers typically forget minor yet significant details, like mistaking his younger daughter’s shoe size or never delivering on his promise to have the sink fixed.—
Lé Baltar,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
-
There’s no mistaking the stark change in the chip’s packaging.—
Yuri Kageyama,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Lutnick's voluntary closed-door interview comes amid a monthslong procession of powerful people summoned before the committee, many of whom have been subjected to embarrassing revelations in the more than 3 million pages of records known as the Epstein files.—
Graham Kates,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
-
The Game 4 defeat – the no-silver-lining, embarrassing 6-1 loss – left a particularly rancid taste in everyone’s mouth.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Port of Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport endured a cyberattack in August 2024 initiated by a ransomware group that caused some IT system outages disrupting Wi-Fi, facility websites, flight display screens and check-in kiosks.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
-
The process of how art gets made seems to change every day, with new technologies disrupting old workflows and evolving methods of distribution and monetization.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Italian town is not the first area to struggle with troublesome peacocks or other birds.—
Amarachi Orie,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
-
One of the best ways to deter these troublesome insects is to lure them away from your zucchini crops by planting Hubbard squash nearby as a trap crop.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confusing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confusing. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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