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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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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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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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 Part of the confusion lies with the fact that the midterm elections could change the makeup of Congress, which could lead to new policies or pauses. — Anil Oza, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026 Netizens proclaimed their affection for the rattan man, claiming a combination of intrigue, longing, and confusion. — Kirbie Johnson, Allure, 23 Oct. 2026 The preview also featured some familiar faces, including Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, which causes Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man confusion over who to refer to as Captain America, with Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson now carrying the shield. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026 In recent days, the White House and Elon Musk have been trading dueling narratives over the suspension of Starlink service to Ukraine in a haze of confusion. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian, CNBC, 22 Oct. 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 morning fog had lifted as Bates trails one of his delivery trucks and its driver, Lee Wood.
    — Rachel Siegel, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Oyamel firs thrive in cool, moist, mountainous environments, usually between 1,200 and 4,100 meters (3,940–13,450 feet) above sea level, where fog and precipitation are common.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of fog
Noun
  • Lignel began conversations with the gallery in 2008 as a recession wrought havoc upon the New York art market and the global economy.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Lucas Calderon, owner of Holy Crab, a Coral Gables seafood business that specializes in stone crab home delivery, recalls the havoc Milton wrought on the industry.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of havoc
Noun
  • Also, keep extra toilet paper visible, your hand soap full and some air freshener on the counter, so everyone can use the bathroom without embarrassment or disgust.
    — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The league is a farce and an embarrassment to our country, not thier country.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of embarrassment
Noun
  • The shampoo didn’t strip the tester’s already-dry hair, and a two-minute conditioner left her tangles smooth enough to finger-comb.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The double-deck Wacker Drive obliterated a tangle of buildings and produce stalls in favor of a broad Beaux Arts thoroughfare by the Chicago River.
    — Robert Loerzel, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of tangle
Noun
  • Rather than chasing fancy titles or splashy paychecks throughout her career, she’s gravitated toward jobs that pushed her out of her comfort zone, forced her to take risks, and taught her to embrace a little chaos.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Continue reading ⦠WAKE-UP CALL â France's riot chaos fuels warning that mass immigration failures could haunt another country.
    — , FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of chaos
Noun
  • The band frequently steers the poppy songwriting offroad by leaning into distortion and ambience, creating moments of both near-mania and hazy unease.
    — Sue Park, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Mild unease gave way to statements about being worthless, unloved, and a failure.
    — Shae Lake, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of unease
Noun
  • Walzer thought the matter through aloud with me, at one point letting out a small chuckle at his intellectual perplexity.
    — Jordi Graupera, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about confusion

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