CONFOUND Synonyms: 156 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'confound' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of confound are bewilder , distract , dumbfound , nonplus , perplex , and puzzle . While all these words mean "to baffle and disturb mentally," confound implies temporary mental paralysis caused by astonishment or profound abasement. // the tragic news confounded us all

Q: When might 'bewilder' be a better fit than 'confound'?

In some situations, the words bewilder and confound are roughly equivalent. However, bewilder stresses a confusion of mind that hampers clear and decisive thinking. // a bewildering number of possibilities

Q: Where would 'distract' be a reasonable alternative to 'confound'?

While the synonyms distract and confound are close in meaning, distract implies agitation or uncertainty induced by conflicting preoccupations or interests. // distracted by personal problems

Q: When can 'dumbfound' be used instead of 'confound'?

The words dumbfound and confound are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dumbfound suggests intense but momentary confounding; often the idea of astonishment is so stressed that it becomes a near synonym of astound . // was at first too dumbfounded to reply

Q: When could 'nonplus' be used to replace 'confound'?

The synonyms nonplus and confound are sometimes interchangeable, but nonplus implies a bafflement that makes orderly planning or deciding impossible. // the remark left us utterly nonplussed

Q: In what contexts can 'perplex' take the place of 'confound'?

The meanings of perplex and confound largely overlap; however, perplex adds a suggestion of worry and uncertainty especially about making a necessary decision. // a behavior that perplexed her friends

Q: When would 'puzzle' be a good substitute for 'confound'?

The words puzzle and confound can be used in similar contexts, but puzzle implies existence of a problem difficult to solve. // the persistent fever puzzled the doctor

confound

verb

kən-ˈfau̇nd

Definition of confound

as in to confuse

to throw into a state of mental uncertainty we were confounded by the player's remote control, which wasn't at all user-friendly

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to embarrass

to throw into a state of self-conscious distress his renewed popularity has confounded the critics who said his singing career was dead

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to conflate

to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related I think you've confounded astrology with astronomy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to refute

to prove to be false new discoveries that confound much of what archaeologists thought they knew about the Mayan civilization

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb confound differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of confound are bewilder, distract, dumbfound, nonplus, perplex, and puzzle. While all these words mean "to baffle and disturb mentally," confound implies temporary mental paralysis caused by astonishment or profound abasement.

the tragic news confounded us all

When might bewilder be a better fit than confound?

In some situations, the words bewilder and confound are roughly equivalent. However, bewilder stresses a confusion of mind that hampers clear and decisive thinking.

a bewildering number of possibilities

Where would distract be a reasonable alternative to confound?

While the synonyms distract and confound are close in meaning, distract implies agitation or uncertainty induced by conflicting preoccupations or interests.

distracted by personal problems

When can dumbfound be used instead of confound?

The words dumbfound and confound are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dumbfound suggests intense but momentary confounding; often the idea of astonishment is so stressed that it becomes a near synonym of astound.

was at first too dumbfounded to reply

When could nonplus be used to replace confound?

The synonyms nonplus and confound are sometimes interchangeable, but nonplus implies a bafflement that makes orderly planning or deciding impossible.

the remark left us utterly nonplussed

In what contexts can perplex take the place of confound?

The meanings of perplex and confound largely overlap; however, perplex adds a suggestion of worry and uncertainty especially about making a necessary decision.

a behavior that perplexed her friends

When would puzzle be a good substitute for confound?

The words puzzle and confound can be used in similar contexts, but puzzle implies existence of a problem difficult to solve.

the persistent fever puzzled the doctor

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 confound This is a complex situation that even confounds experts, largely because the trust documentation is not yet publicly available. — Mirin Fader, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 American style can be at turns confounding, amusing, and aspirational. — Luis Alberto Rodriguez, Vanity Fair, 20 Aug. 2026 Experimental design is a very hard thing and there’s all kinds of confounding possibilities. — Quanta Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026 But despite this budding success, ZZ Top seemed to confound the rock press, who tended to dismiss them or lump them in with other Southern rock bands. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for confound

Recent Examples of Synonyms for confound

Verb

Then began the desperate, confusing search for their colleagues.

— Ross Adkin, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Summary Founders frequently misjudge their business's worth, often confusing revenue with actual value.

— Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of confuse

Verb

For example, a relative’s benign remark about the texture of a turkey dinner at a family gathering might be interpreted by someone with schizophrenia as a statement meant to embarrass them.

— Matthew Kurtz, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026
College students should not have to worry about their parents embarrassing them to an audience of thousands.

— Mary Frances Ruskell, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of embarrass

Verb

While the ban lasted only three weeks, both the number of weekly visits to the needle exchange and the number of naloxone kits distributed were lower than expected for at least the 20 weeks after the ban was overturned.

— Paul Christine, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
His acquittal was overturned and the case was merged with that relating to the coup attempt.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of overturn

Verb

That’s a common sentiment from a touring superstar, but there’s a sense that Kahan really might be as happily bewildered as the rest of us about how songs this personal and cloudy came to captivate even sunny California.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
The threats are constantly evolving, layering upon themselves with bewildering speed.

— Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of bewilder

Verb

In trying to discredit public concerns about data centers as a psyop, Goldman and others said, tech leaders are taking a page out of the intelligence playbook themselves.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Inflicting these details on the jury, the children’s family members, and the public served no discernible purpose in establishing Clancy’s mens rea, which might have discredited her not-guilty plea.

— Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of discredit

Verb

The scene never fails to baffle the senses as the path rises up about a thousand feet from the valley floor.

— Kalpana Mohan, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
She is baffled by the way her friends Moe and Fumina rail against their parents, especially when Yuko is always holding back at home, forever walking on eggshells.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of baffle

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“Confound.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confound. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of confound

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