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
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Recent Examples of confuse
Carrie Teegardin, AJC.com, 17 June 2026
Bores and his allies contend his opponents are simply trying to confuse voters.
—Matt Brown, Fortune, 17 June 2026
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
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
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Verb
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s investigation of the alternative medicine industry uncovered a pattern of practitioners across Georgia pushing legal limits on what they’re allowed to do and presenting confusing information about their credentials.
—Carrie Teegardin, AJC.com, 17 June 2026
Bores and his allies contend his opponents are simply trying to confuse voters.
—Matt Brown, Fortune, 17 June 2026
Adjective
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
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
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
Verb
-
The narrator and his wife find that their attachment to the charismatic and cryptic Chibi grows with the cat’s increasing visits, in a way that bewilders them but somehow bonds them closer together.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
Similarly, the defensively bewildering 9-6 loss the Wild suffered to start Round 2 in Colorado set the tone for five games that would ultimately be their undoing.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
This unforeseen shift now complicates Milwaukee's efforts to acquire a substantial draft-heavy package for their superstar.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
Trump previously planned to hold a Cabinet meeting at Camp David in May but canceled plans because of poor weather that would have complicated the helicopter flight to the retreat.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
At the same time, Carter (Finn Little) mistakes Oreana's (Natalie Alyn Lind) attention for something more.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
13 June 2026
-
The recurring worry was that the technology can be confidently wrong, handing over a clean, plausible answer that happens to be mistaken.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Critics wondered whether prices would crash before kickoff, and if swathes of empty seats would embarrass FIFA’s pricing strategy.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
-
With no league and no roadmap, a ragtag group of players and an unlikely coach endured a grueling two-year training camp, hoping simply not to embarrass their nation at the first-ever World Cup on American soil.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
And of how Iran’s preparation for this World Cup has been disrupted, this is definitely among the more minor.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
In their letter, the senators cited the approaching El Niño — a periodic Pacific warming that disrupts weather patterns and supercharges marine heat waves — as evidence the cuts are particularly ill timed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
But there were also perplexing moments that punctured the gravitas of the event (even for an event built around hand-to-hand combat).—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
-
Aryna Sabalenka being asked to dance after defeating Naomi Osaka in the French Open has one former American tennis star perplexed.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
As these events unfold, Early’s earnestness blurs comedy and drama, to surprisingly heartfelt effect.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
20 June 2026
-
To soften the look of this nostalgic floral, try blurring its edges to create an airbrushed effect.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
Proving he wasn't flustered, Gay judged length well, left the ball well, and picked his shots, especially against dangerous New Zealand quicks Will O'Rourke and Smith.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
-
On the witness stand, the teenager was reportedly combative and flustered by Jackson’s attorney Tom Mesereau, who attempted to poke holes in Gavin’s testimony and allegedly screamed at the boy throughout.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuse. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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