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
Synonyms
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
Activists on college campuses have confused the ability to occupy and disrupt physical space for the right to dissent verbally.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2025
The employee recounted how the customer, seemingly annoyed, gestured under his chin in a manner that initially confused her.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
The low-stakes story (co-written with the director’s wife, Jerusha Hess) was hugely meme-able but still confusing to critics in the mostly pre-internet age.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Feb. 2025
All-out blitz: New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys in 2007 playoffs
Spagnuolo has confused quarterbacks, play-callers and the like for nearly three decades.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for confuse 
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Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2025
The employee recounted how the customer, seemingly annoyed, gestured under his chin in a manner that initially confused her.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
The low-stakes story (co-written with the director’s wife, Jerusha Hess) was hugely meme-able but still confusing to critics in the mostly pre-internet age.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Feb. 2025
All-out blitz: New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys in 2007 playoffs
Spagnuolo has confused quarterbacks, play-callers and the like for nearly three decades.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for confuse
Articles Related to confuse
Dictionary Entries Near confuse
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confuse. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
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
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