confused; confusing
1
: to disturb in mind or purpose : throw off
The directions she gave confused us.
2
a
: to make indistinct : blur
Stop confusing the issue.
b
: to fail to differentiate from an often similar or related other
confuse money with comfort
Do not confuse the words "flaunt" and "flout."
c
: to mix indiscriminately : jumble
Their arms, legs, and bodies were confused together, till they resembled … two serpents interlaced.—
Thomas Medwin
Thomas Medwin3
: to make embarrassed : abash
4
archaic
: to bring to ruin
Examples of confuse in a Sentence
The general was trying to confuse the enemy.
The new evidence only confused matters further.
You must be confusing me with someone else.
Recent Examples on the Web
Cassidy also complained that a new primary system enacted last year confused voters by requiring them to ask for a partisan ballot instead of the all-party primary previously in place.
—Thomas Beaumont, Fortune, 17 May 2026
Beware of confusing north privetwith its invasive cousin, Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense).
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
So, in the final season, when Claire and Jamie learn the details of why their very much alive daughter was never given to them, fans were confused.
—Reshma Gopaldas, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
Winners are chosen by a mix of votes from the two, translated into points by a system confusing even to Eurovision fans.
—Jill Lawless, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for confuse
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.
Thomas Beaumont, Fortune, 17 May 2026
Beware of confusing north privetwith its invasive cousin, Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense).
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
So, in the final season, when Claire and Jamie learn the details of why their very much alive daughter was never given to them, fans were confused.
—Reshma Gopaldas, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
Winners are chosen by a mix of votes from the two, translated into points by a system confusing even to Eurovision fans.
—Jill Lawless, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confuse. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
confuse
verb
con·fuse
kən-ˈfyüz 
confused; confusing
1
a
: to make mentally foggy or uncertain : perplex
the complicated problem confused us
b
: to cause to be embarrassed or upset
2
: to make unclear : blur
stop confusing the issue
3
: to make disordered : jumble
the cords were all confused together
4
: to fail to tell apart
teachers always confused the twins
confusedly
adverb
-ˈfyüz(-ə)d-lē
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
