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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

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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 Swiping on profile after profile, seeing all these faces and all this data about them confounds our human instincts. Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 3 May 2025 Yet The Midnight Walk is its own construction, a world made of 700 clay objects that inspire awe throughout a sometimes confounding dream world. The New York Times, New York Times, 30 May 2025 Many of the studies on the topic are of poor quality and have numerous confounding factors and flawed methods. Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 30 May 2025 The White House says their country is no longer dangerous for them, a contention that confounds Afghanistan watchers. Tom Bowman, NPR, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for confound
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confound
Verb
  • The measures are set to take effect on Monday and have left many Haitians confused.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
  • Elections and Certifications Don’t confuse a benefit or B corporation with a B Corp.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • The following program will contain graphic stupidity, as four friends compete to embarrass one another – only this time in Lithuania.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 June 2025
  • Races are sometimes won by runners making a move from the back of the pack, and L.A. could still find its stride, show some pride, and avoid embarrassing itself.
    Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2025
Verb
  • Security camera footage, however, refuted his story, according to the court documents.
    Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2025
  • Yet a source close to the contract negotiations, who requested anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic, refuted that claim.
    Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • There was one final thing that left St John perplexed.
    Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 11 May 2025
  • The results achieved statistical significance in one part of the analysis but not in others, perplexing outside experts.
    Brenda Goodman, CNN, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • But the decision was overturned to a no-contest after Keyshawn tested positive for marijuana.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 June 2025
  • Adeyemi then had a penalty overturned in the 35th minute.
    Manuel Veth, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Verb
  • Babb acknowledged that the team was bewildered at the stunning turn of events.
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 30 May 2025
  • They were bewildered for me, and so was all the other staff.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Trump’s team is working furiously to keep the bill going on other fronts, too: seeking to discredit Congress’s nonpartisan scorekeeper while savaging Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., for resisting the bill and its debt ceiling increase.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 6 June 2025
  • The White House has sought to discredit the CBO, but other groups have also presented estimates that conclude that the legislation would expand the U.S. government deficit by trillions of dollars.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • How Harry has changed under the influence of Meghan Markle has been baffling both to the royal family and beyond.
    Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2025
  • So, for the club to be entertaining flogging, the one man who has bucked that trend is baffling.
    Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025

Cite this Entry

“Confound.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confound. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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