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
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Recent Examples of confusing
Cassidy Sollazzo, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026
Project proposals said the lanes are underutilized and confusing to drivers.
—Chris Hoffman, CBS News, 19 June 2026
If nothing else, that should make for a less confusing TV product.
—Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 19 June 2026
The team even ran the rover through the deep, confusing shadows of dusk and dawn.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 June 2026
The debate over recess has grown so confusing that recently the American Academy of Pediatrics stepped in and updated its policy statement.
—Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
But the true story behind it is a dark, sad and overall pretty confusing one.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 17 June 2026
If the language being used to describe the US–Iran negotiations seems vague or confusing, that’s sometimes by design, says Yacoubian.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
The Padres have a winning record, but still remain one of the most confusing teams in baseball.
—David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
Charles J. Dimitroff, The Conversation, 12 June 2026
While the numbers, nutrients, and ingredient lists may seem confusing at first, learning how to read nutrition labels can tell you a lot about what’s actually in the food.
—Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 10 June 2026
Leaving porch lights on overnight can also have potential negative impacts on nature, confusing them and disrupting their natural behaviors, Harshbarger says.
—Kate McKenna, The Spruce, 9 June 2026
Emotionally and intellectually rewarding, Ulmer’s work was vibrant, visceral and infused with a musical logic that would have been confusing if attempted by less accomplished artists, but made perfect sense in his skilled hands.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
However, actually making shortcuts is confusing and requires a guide.
—Ruben Circelli, PC Magazine, 9 June 2026
Relocating a bird's nest is confusing for the parents, dangerous for the eggs, and, in most cases, against the law.
—Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 6 June 2026
Since tickets went on sale last year, there has been ongoing controversy surrounding the cost of attendance, from confusing (and expensive) ticket prices to high transit costs.
—Joe Murphy, NBC news, 1 June 2026
Patients taken to court described baffling bills, confusing health plan rules, and frustrating and fruitless telephone calls to hospital billing offices and health insurers’ customer-service lines.
—Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2026
Adjective
Those themes are compelling on paper, but they’re expressed through a confusing mix of abstraction and hyper-local specificity, hidden beneath biker rock riffs, and obscured through Allbrook’s wiry, wailing vocal delivery.
—Cassidy Sollazzo, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026
Project proposals said the lanes are underutilized and confusing to drivers.
—Chris Hoffman, CBS News, 19 June 2026
If nothing else, that should make for a less confusing TV product.
—Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 19 June 2026
The team even ran the rover through the deep, confusing shadows of dusk and dawn.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 June 2026
The debate over recess has grown so confusing that recently the American Academy of Pediatrics stepped in and updated its policy statement.
—Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
But the true story behind it is a dark, sad and overall pretty confusing one.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 17 June 2026
If the language being used to describe the US–Iran negotiations seems vague or confusing, that’s sometimes by design, says Yacoubian.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
The Padres have a winning record, but still remain one of the most confusing teams in baseball.
—David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
Verb
Cancers can release this protein into the tumor microenvironment, where the molecule attaches to the T cells and change their ability to communicate with other cells, confusing the T cells and restricting their ability to survive and kill cancer.
—Charles J. Dimitroff, The Conversation, 12 June 2026
While the numbers, nutrients, and ingredient lists may seem confusing at first, learning how to read nutrition labels can tell you a lot about what’s actually in the food.
—Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 10 June 2026
Leaving porch lights on overnight can also have potential negative impacts on nature, confusing them and disrupting their natural behaviors, Harshbarger says.
—Kate McKenna, The Spruce, 9 June 2026
Emotionally and intellectually rewarding, Ulmer’s work was vibrant, visceral and infused with a musical logic that would have been confusing if attempted by less accomplished artists, but made perfect sense in his skilled hands.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
However, actually making shortcuts is confusing and requires a guide.
—Ruben Circelli, PC Magazine, 9 June 2026
Relocating a bird's nest is confusing for the parents, dangerous for the eggs, and, in most cases, against the law.
—Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 6 June 2026
Since tickets went on sale last year, there has been ongoing controversy surrounding the cost of attendance, from confusing (and expensive) ticket prices to high transit costs.
—Joe Murphy, NBC news, 1 June 2026
Patients taken to court described baffling bills, confusing health plan rules, and frustrating and fruitless telephone calls to hospital billing offices and health insurers’ customer-service lines.
—Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confusing
Adjective
-
The verdict was delivered amid difficult personal circumstances for Mette-Marit, Hoiby’s mother, who needs a lung transplant for pulmonary fibrosis.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
-
Otherwise, those prospects start becoming large contracts that stand more difficult to move or aggregate.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
In their last two losses, the Valkyries have struggled against athletic players like Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson and Minnesota’s Natasha Howard, which makes Amihere’s lack of playing time perplexing.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
-
Despite the thriving community Sacramento FrontRunners is building, the group has not yet managed to overcome one perplexing problem — building membership among women.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
For more than four minutes Darnold drove downfield, connecting on three of four passes, baffling the pass rushers, bleeding the clock, and by the time the Seahawks finally gave the ball back, the Rams had only 25 seconds to live.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
-
Though some of the recent playoff defeats have been baffling and call for self-evaluation within the organization, the culture has been a huge net positive overall.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Sarandon brings a welcome unpredictability to Sylvia, complicating a character who might otherwise have curdled into cliche.—
Natalia Winkelman,
Variety,
16 June 2026
-
That period was marred by thousands of disappearances and deaths, shaping Lebanese distrust and complicating feelings toward Syria.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
That’s when organizations begin mistaking operational momentum for operational stability.—
Doug Shannon,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
On the football field, there is no mistaking New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Then to Sydney Harbour, the very scene of that embarrassing capsize exactly a year earlier, and the Americans won the event outright for a first win since October 2023.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The knock-on effect is a shortage of fuel and munitions for Russian frontline troops in southern Ukraine, further disrupting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s wartime goals.—
Gianluca Mezzofiore,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
-
People attending the trial would also be prohibited from reacting, gesturing, wearing distracting clothing, or otherwise disrupting proceedings.—
Matthew Davisson,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
The covenant — including troublesome terms like those born on the island being unable to leave on pain of death — only ends when Warren’s bloodline does, too.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
17 June 2026
-
Assess Your Home’s Ductwork While some low-effort quick fixes can help, Anthony Smith, director at Midland Air Conditioning, thinks troublesome airflow might come from your home’s ductwork.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confusing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confusing. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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