1
as in difficult
Related Words
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of confusing
Anja Webb, Parents, 6 Nov. 2025
Without that administrative approval, Medicare patients — and their doctors — have been left in a very complicated and confusing limbo.
—Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 6 Nov. 2025
But when homeowners agreed, a notary would come with a multipage contract in confusing language, the AG’s office said, and the notary would pressure homeowners to sign immediately without allowing time for review.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 5 Nov. 2025
But navigating Iguazú, which is split into two parks—Iguazú National Park in Argentina and Iguaçu National Park in Brazil—can be confusing.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
Was this just a one-off performance against a confusing defense?
—Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Plus, a confusing mix of promotions hurt sales last quarter.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
This last episode was much more confusing than usual.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
The fragmentation of this reality has made things exciting, confusing, and frustrating for the average individual who, when walking into a dispensary for the first time, is confronted with a wall of packages and detailed, jargony labels.
—Carly Fisher, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025
PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025
This was out of respect for me, and also to avoid confusing the children.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is among those coaches expected to get real consideration in next year's head-coaching cycle, and his propensity for confusing young QBs is well known across the NFL.
—Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
There are questions to see if Marysol and Alexia are actually twins, but the questions are lame, and their answers are confusing and disappointing.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
This brings the total to more than $2 million raised to influence the outcome of Referendum 310, funding a wave of misleading ads aimed at confusing voters.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
The British and American versions also have different plot points, further confusing the matter, but the score has endured and developed a cult-following.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025
Brewers center fielder Sal Frelick jumped and got a glove on it but the ball caromed off his glove and the top of the wall, bouncing back into the field of play – where Frelick caught it, thoroughly confusing the three Dodger baserunners.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Outside of safety concerns, a toy intended for an older child can be frustrating and confusing to younger children.
—Anja Webb, Parents, 6 Nov. 2025
Without that administrative approval, Medicare patients — and their doctors — have been left in a very complicated and confusing limbo.
—Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 6 Nov. 2025
But when homeowners agreed, a notary would come with a multipage contract in confusing language, the AG’s office said, and the notary would pressure homeowners to sign immediately without allowing time for review.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 5 Nov. 2025
But navigating Iguazú, which is split into two parks—Iguazú National Park in Argentina and Iguaçu National Park in Brazil—can be confusing.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
Was this just a one-off performance against a confusing defense?
—Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Plus, a confusing mix of promotions hurt sales last quarter.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
This last episode was much more confusing than usual.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
The fragmentation of this reality has made things exciting, confusing, and frustrating for the average individual who, when walking into a dispensary for the first time, is confronted with a wall of packages and detailed, jargony labels.
—Carly Fisher, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
Perplexity’s image features photographs of people with some truly nightmarish distortions on its wall, while the placement of its sink is confusing and distracting.
—PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025
This was out of respect for me, and also to avoid confusing the children.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is among those coaches expected to get real consideration in next year's head-coaching cycle, and his propensity for confusing young QBs is well known across the NFL.
—Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
There are questions to see if Marysol and Alexia are actually twins, but the questions are lame, and their answers are confusing and disappointing.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
This brings the total to more than $2 million raised to influence the outcome of Referendum 310, funding a wave of misleading ads aimed at confusing voters.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
The British and American versions also have different plot points, further confusing the matter, but the score has endured and developed a cult-following.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025
Brewers center fielder Sal Frelick jumped and got a glove on it but the ball caromed off his glove and the top of the wall, bouncing back into the field of play – where Frelick caught it, thoroughly confusing the three Dodger baserunners.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confusing
Adjective
-
Jens generally chooses his words carefully, and is, what’s more, particularly reticent just after finishing a long and difficult winter delivery trip; what’s a person supposed to do with words in a blizzard anyway, up on a stormy heath and all directions lost?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
In his first start in the wake of Beau Pribula’s significant injury, Zollers walked into a difficult situation, and his stat line reflected it.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The movie is hilarious, fun, disturbing, perplexing, exuberant, exhausting.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2025
-
The canon can already be described as a bewildering artistic menagerie, including a perplexing assessment of misandrism, body horror by Brian Yuzna, killer toys from the ’90s, and more.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The pilot of a private jet reportedly made an eerie discovery while flying thousands of feet over Rhode Island, marking the latest in unexplained encounters baffling both experts and civilians alike.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
22 Dec. 2025
-
From financial wipeouts to baffling misreads of beloved source material, some of Hollywood’s most notorious flops began as video games.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
19 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Elhawary acknowledged the billionaire tax proposal is a complicating factor in discussions about taxes, which is already a politically fraught issue.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Partnerships between public and private entities that were forged during the early days continue to support the event, but as with any public gathering, challenges from the outside were complicating their plans.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Buffett has also repeatedly cautioned shareholders against mistaking volatility for failure.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
1 Jan. 2026
-
The creative LaMelo Ball, along with Kon Knueppel, Collin Sexton and Tre Mann are all gifted scorers and offensive forces, but nobody is mistaking them for members of the 2004 Pistons.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The report reiterated concerns about seven situations, two of which have been on the list since 2007, including the bureaucracy’s chronic inability to successfully employ information technology — embarrassing for a state that is the global center for digital tools.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
8 Jan. 2026
-
An ever-growing pile of embarrassing legislative audits consistently reveals the persistent challenge the governor has with recruiting and retaining leaders with executive acumen.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In addition to disrupting the students’ routines, parents said the school closure forced them to scramble to make child care arrangements.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
-
And the light from screens can affect your circadian rhythm, disrupting your sleep.—
Andee Tagle,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
There’s nothing more troublesome than a government that finds no problem too small to care about — and governments have a terrible track record for solving large ones.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
7 Nov. 2025
-
However, replacing 2/3 of your outfield in one offseason can be troublesome at times.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confusing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confusing. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share