confuse

verb

kən-ˈfyüz How to pronounce confuse (audio)
Definition of confusenext
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

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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 confuse In both cases, the company noted how the two other marks cause consumers to be confused. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026 Idahoans United said the statements are not concise and could confuse voters. — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 27 Aug. 2026 Rishi Naik of Vanderbilt University Medical Center worries users could confuse this data with cancer screening and skip real tests. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026 The couple was initially confused, considering where the birdhouse had been left, but the confusion quickly gave way to laughter. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for confuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
  1. bewilder
  2. complicate
  3. mistake
  4. embarrass
  5. disrupt
  6. perplex
  7. blur
  8. fluster
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
  • Bond yields Persistent inflation, tariffs and whipsawing gas prices are not the only obstacles complicating the task for the Fed.
    — Brian Cheung, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Beijing — Already harrowing rescue efforts along the China-Nepal border are being complicated by the risk of new flooding or landslides, with authorities in China and Nepal pausing rescue efforts Friday due to those fears.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of complicate
Verb
  • In September 2011, Daniels, then a 17-year-old dropout and a member of the Bloods, was walking to the laundromat with his sister when rival gang members approached her — mistaking her for Daniels’ other sister, who was also caught up in the streets.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • And both times, there was no mistaking who the gallery wanted to win.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of mistake
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
  • Afternoon or evening exercise can improve strength, reduce stress, and lower injury risk, but intense sessions could disrupt sleep.
    — Health Editorial Team, HEALTH, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Changing weather patterns also disrupt plant biology, deplete water infrastructure, and increase operating costs.
    — Jonathan Destler, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of disrupt
Verb
  • Others are perplexed at the meshing of fact (Wat Tyler and the Revolt) and fiction (Robin Hood).
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • As crime units and crime tape surrounded the house, neighbors who knew the officer are perplexed.
    — Anna Meiler, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of perplex
Verb
  • Then, the Sun quincunxes Neptune, which can blur timing, tone, or expectations.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Aug. 2026
  • For all three women, the lines blur between real and fantasy life.
    — Ingrid Abramovitch, Architectural Digest, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of blur
Verb
  • If this were still the primary, Raman would have flustered her way to a non-answer.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Saliba is rarely flustered, so to see his game affected as much as it was made an impression.
    — Art de Roché, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Definition of fluster

Browse Nearby Words

confronts
confuse
confused
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Cite this Entry

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

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