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 Chinn said using common terminology can help reduce confusion during stressful situations. — Hannah McIlree, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 But there are real-world consequences if confusion over Fed policy causes severe turbulence in markets. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026 American doesn’t offer the basic business, or basic premium economy fares, which could also add confusion if another carrier that does appears cheaper at first glance. — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026 The second season continued this confusion with a time-travel story often bordering on incoherence. — Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 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
  • As his mind retreats to the hues of old movies, Charlotte breaks the fog with a glimmer of humanity.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Forecasts show temperatures reaching highs in the 90s throughout the remainder of the week, in addition to isolated thunderstorms, fog and showers.
    — Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of fog
Noun
  • Iran has aimed significant firepower at its neighbors’ refineries, oil exports and tourist attractions, inflicting economic havoc on the Gulf states and the countries that do business with them.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • This can create a tricky situation if those roots are causing havoc around your home’s foundation or otherwise disrupting your landscaping.
    — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of havoc
Noun
  • For the Indian government, the scandal was seen by some a political embarrassment, triggering protests by the opposition.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Amy Edmondson’s work on psychological safety has helped leaders understand why employees need to be able to raise concerns, admit mistakes, and ask questions without fear of punishment or embarrassment.
    — Brian Eason, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of embarrassment
Noun
  • The tension eventually becomes unstable, causing the tangle of magnetic fields to snap apart and then magnetically reconnect, releasing a burst of energy.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Her car remained unreachable hours later behind a thick tangle of leaves and branches.
    — Theodore Parisienne, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of tangle
Noun
  • For a series built around the unsettling idea of collective perfection, Pluribus works because each department thrived in the chaos of creation.
    — Deadline, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike now, when Google is widely seen as both portal and gatekeeper, sites like AltaVista, Lycos, Excite, HotBot, and Ask Jeeves promised to tame the chaos, each with its own suite of quirks, charms, and flaws.
    — Alan Bradley, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of chaos
Noun
  • According to Mukkamala, those professional challenges heighten the personal unease some clinicians feel treating addiction patients.
    — Brian Mann, NPR, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Such talk seemed fanciful until this week, despite long-term unease with Infantino’s style and previous attempts to force through unpopular projects.
    — Graham Dunbar, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of unease
Noun
  • The first weeks were a roller coaster of pleasure and perplexity.
    — Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
  • The fashion world, for the most part, reacted with perplexity.
    — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2026
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 11 Aug. 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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