1
as in to bewilder
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the similar-sounding words "censure" and "censor" often confuse people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to complicate
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to mistake
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 to embarrass
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 to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
vandals had hopelessly confused the papers in the office files
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in difficult
Related Words
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
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Recent Examples of confuse
Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Customers were confused over SNAP benefits that remain in limbo amid the government shutdown, the teller explained.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
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
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
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Verb
But years later, McCarty’s description of that vantage point only served to confuse those in the fire station.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Customers were confused over SNAP benefits that remain in limbo amid the government shutdown, the teller explained.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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
Verb
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
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
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
-
Played for comic relief, he is baffled by this son of his who attends college and, more perplexing yet, is suddenly obsessed with Italy and cycling.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The Packers’ offense already had several perplexing questions to answer after a dismal Sunday showing.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
3 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
Adjective
-
The fact no one has picked up this exceptional docu from director David Kittredge is baffling, leading me to think somehow it is cursed, much the same way the original Exorcist was thought to be while in production.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
31 Oct. 2025
-
There are several baffling visual motifs, like Jonah’s insistence on wearing the tightest possible shirt in which to teach high-school English or Miller’s ever-flexing jaw muscle.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Its natural deodorizing properties help neutralize the unpleasant smells associated with pets, according to Stein.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
1 Nov. 2025
-
The 75-year-old ginkgo trees have been wafting the unpleasant smell into the air at the Northern California park, forcing residents to brave the stench that is comparable to vomit, The Sacramento Bee and SFGATE report.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Here are five times what seemed like a harmless toy turned into a puzzling moment online.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The second flare is even more puzzling.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
While Houston’s rally wasn’t quite as explosive, the Texans pulled off what once seemed impossible.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
There are great catches and there are impossible catches.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
What is the most confounding and terrible, however, is Gretchen’s assertion that Slade, the anti-Viagra, doesn’t get involved with the women on his own accord, but only engages because the women always talk about him.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The offense’s struggles are the most confounding.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuse. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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