confuse 1 of 3

1
2
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
5

confusing

2 of 3

adjective

confusing

3 of 3

verb (2)

present participle of confuse
1
2
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
5

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 confuse
Verb
This confuses your immune system and causes an allergic reaction known as cross-reactivity.14 Summary Cucumbers are a healthy addition to most people's diets. Kathi Valeii, Verywell Health, 29 Apr. 2025 The result, say critics, includes the highest tariffs in more than a century; sudden, confusing shifts in tariff policy and major damage to the U.S.' geopolitical relationships. Alain Sherter, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025 He's stressed and confused about being all alone without his human. @voicesforcarolinaanimals Mr. Bentley has an incredibly sad story. Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025 Kakar and his Muslim teammates started using Farsi to communicate as a way to confuse the opposition. Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for confuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
Adjective
  • The Whitecaps won games in Mexico, which is difficult to do.
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Doing this even for planets within our solar system is difficult.
    Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The situation only becomes more perplexing when Caleb realizes that no one in his life ever remembers him being married.
    Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The Dodgers’ offense is more talented than the last 10 days have indicated, which makes this stretch all the more perplexing.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Algorithms are nothing new for dating apps, but reducing the human element in communications seems a little troublesome.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
  • María Paz Peñaloza Cabrera, 31, went to the doctor’s Astoria home March 28 to get troublesome butt implants removed, authorities say.
    Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The baffling sight of the car inside the hangar came amid a larger expedition led by a team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • In contrast with the often thoughtful use of space, the production is marred by a baffling design choice.
    Christian Lewis, Variety, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Doing so consumes water, requires the use of often eco-unfriendly cleansers, and adds an unpleasant task to janitors' daily duties.
    Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 25 Apr. 2025
  • But that’s another unpleasant truth that is best left unspoken.
    The Editors, National Review, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Even more puzzling was the late move to bring in striker Odsonne Edouard from Crystal Palace to take up the second and last available Premier League loan, paying a large proportion of his considerable wages to boot.
    Rob Tanner, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
  • What may be more puzzling is how to stop the white-ball team from crashing and burning.
    Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • And after dark, the dealers were impossible to miss: short young men in hoodies and women in pajama pants, slinking around corners with side packs.
    Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2025
  • As is often the problem with biopics of all kinds — jukebox musical or not — the sheer scope of a life is impossible to capture in a mere 2 hour runtime.
    Shania Russell, EW.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The offerings vary greatly, the rugged but versatile two-door Defender 90 to the unwieldy three-row, eight-passenger Defender 130.
    James Raia, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2025
  • During their initial run from 1975 to 1982, Pere Ubu were an untamable band, merging the loose energy of garage rock with 1960s rock, as well as funk bass, unwieldy saxophones, and Thomas’ commanding presence.
    Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 24 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuse. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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