confusion

noun

kən-ˈfyü-zhən How to pronounce confusion (audio)
Definition of confusionnext
1
as in fog
a state of mental uncertainty the farmer's driving directions to the fairground just left us in total confusion

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in havoc
a state in which everything is out of order it was hard to find anything in that confusion in the attic

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in embarrassment
the emotional state of being made self-consciously uncomfortable thrown into speechless confusion by the wild accusations

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 confusion The pre-evacuation warning caused some confusion when it was shared by the app Watch Duty on Friday night, Lake County Sheriff Heath Speckman said on Saturday morning. — Katie Langford, Denver Post, 4 July 2026 Mamdani also urged New Yorkers to watch for symptoms of heat stroke, including confusion, dizziness, nausea and trouble breathing, and to call 911 immediately if someone experiences those symptoms. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026 That confusion resulted in many invitations to enticing events, including a birthday party for Andy Warhol). — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 3 July 2026 The report alleges that Freedom 250 was advertised as an addition to America250 rather than as its replacement, creating confusion. — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for confusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confusion
  1. fog
  2. havoc
  3. embarrassment
  4. tangle
  5. chaos
  6. unease
  7. perplexity
  8. jumble
Noun
  • The 23 crew members fought through dense fog and dealt with equipment issues after leaving port on June 5.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026
  • As the fog slowly revealed and concealed the towering limestone islets, the tranquil scenery was a grounding way to experience one of Vietnam’s most spectacular landscapes.
    — Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2026
Definition of fog
Noun
  • His counterpressing has been a major aid to the way the team plays, and Balogun’s ability to run in behind the lines and cause havoc in the box opens space and makes things easier for the attacking players around him.
    — Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • You’d be forgiven for thinking far fewer of the destructive predators are causing havoc, however.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 July 2026
Definition of havoc
Noun
  • Goalkeeper Matt Freese’s costly blunder in the 57th minute was an embarrassment that gifted the Belgians a third goal to all but seal the elimination loss.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
  • Either way, the development is a public embarrassment for Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek, whose antagonistic, foot-dragging attitude in negotiations with his young core finally cost him dearly.
    — Greg Beacham, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of embarrassment
Noun
  • They’re immediately pulled into a tangle of police reports, hospital notifications, insurance calls, and legal questions that can feel impossible to sort through while grieving.
    — William Jones, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026
  • Richie Laryea for Canada burst into the box in a good position but was brought to ground amid a tangle of legs with South Africa’s Khuliso Mudau.
    — Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 28 June 2026
Definition of tangle
Noun
  • Logan Webb has long been a bright spot amid San Francisco Giants chaos and dysfunction.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Through the chaos, Colleen — who preferred her husband speak on her behalf for this story — is steadied by the TV, waiting for her two favorite programs to come on each evening.
    — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of chaos
Noun
  • To convey the family’s internal unease, Cárdenas landed on a number of devices that were subtle but significant in terms of changing the optics of the series.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 3 July 2026
  • Declassified British documents from the 1960s revealed government unease over the presence of the micronation, as well as eventually shelved plans to bomb it.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026
Definition of unease
Noun
  • The first weeks were a roller coaster of pleasure and perplexity.
    — Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Oklo exemplifies both the promise and the perplexity associated with the rebirth of nuclear power.
    — Bob Woods, CNBC, 9 Nov. 2025
Definition of perplexity
Noun
  • Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality.
    — Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.
    — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of jumble

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Cite this Entry

“Confusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confusion. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on confusion

Nglish: Translation of confusion for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about confusion

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