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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of confuse
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 9 Apr. 2026
That’s not all that’s confusing across the first season.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026
Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
The rollout has been confusing, with unclear communication and a transition process that left many residents frustrated.
—Mandy Havlik, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 4 Apr. 2026
However, following the path of Artemis II may be confusing as the astronauts, mission control and others use confusing jargon and phrases.
—Bymary Kekatos, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Verb
Wedgewood will never be confused with Manning.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 9 Apr. 2026
That’s not all that’s confusing across the first season.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
The student group’s attorney, former Republican lawmaker Anthony Sabatini, countered that the university’s decision was based on a flawed and confusing chain of authority, relying heavily on an outside political organization whose role is now in dispute.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
The rollout has been confusing, with unclear communication and a transition process that left many residents frustrated.
—Mandy Havlik, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
As if that wasn’t confusing enough, not all Christians agree on what day of the calendar that specific Sunday is.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 4 Apr. 2026
However, following the path of Artemis II may be confusing as the astronauts, mission control and others use confusing jargon and phrases.
—Bymary Kekatos, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
Adjective
-
Putting in the new chip was more difficult.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The rest will be more difficult.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Perhaps the most perplexing part of the Nancy Guthrie investigation for the general public has been the lack of information.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
14 Apr. 2026
-
But as the adorable pair get acclimated to life in the nest, they've been observed doing some perplexing – perhaps even seemingly concerning – behavior.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
During the Cold War, this meant limiting the Soviet Union’s influence in the region, while contending with the development of nuclear weapons by two troublesome allies, Israel and Pakistan.—
Jeffrey Taliaferro,
The Conversation,
11 Apr. 2026
-
That can be troublesome as consumers are grappling with higher grocery prices and strained budgets.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The idea of intentionally limiting playing time for his best players with the season on the line was baffling for some fans.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The renderings of what was shown to Hopewell Township resident Kyle Eaton were a tad baffling.—
Chilekasi Adele,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Along the way there are medical emergencies, a drug trip, a private jet to a private Hot Chip concert somewhere mountainous and snowy, some unpleasant business with a dog, heartfelt conversations and existential crises.—
Robert Lloyd,
Boston Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The spandex-blend material is ultra-stretchy, and there’s no unpleasant digging or pinching courtesy of the zipper- and button-free design.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
However, the Echoes From the Past creators made the puzzling and terrifying artistic choice to have VR visitors ride outside the sub during the descent.—
Jordan Runtagh,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Everyone already knows about the Red Sox’s struggles, especially at the plate, but the Mariners and Tigers’ early slumps have been equally puzzling.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That’s the kind of streak that should be impossible.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
So local schools and other governmental units presumably would have to ask for twice as much money to get the same amount, which might make such a deal financially impossible.—
Robert McCoppin,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Grief is one of the most confounding aspects of the human experience.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
-
In 2021, one year into D’Amaro’s tenure and following COVID shutdowns, Disney did away with FastPass and introduced a confounding and very costly series of pay-to-skip passes, which require timing advanced booking of limited slots in these formerly free-to-enter shorter lines.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuse. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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