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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 Many of the documents were without the redactions that had confounded historians for years and helped fuel conspiracy theories. Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025 For one analysis, the researchers themselves chose a set of factors to include as potential confounding influences in an analysis. Samuel Axon, ArsTechnica, 27 Mar. 2025 Such patterns have confounded scientists, who have spent 150 years searching for what causes the disease. Shayla Love, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2025 When Zaya first came out to Wade and Union as transgender, Wade was confounded. D. Watkins, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for confound
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confound
Verb
  • Rob Lowe was recently confused for another celebrity during a Hollywood bus tour.
    Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • For decades, audiences have confused the two for one another — a line that's gotten all the more blurry as the Grammy winner launched her acting career and the Emmy winner began singing in multiple projects, including her turn as Sally Bowles in the 2014 Broadway revival of Cabaret.
    Dave Quinn, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • O’Neil had shown a more ruthless streak in dealing with Lemina, stripping the midfielder of the captaincy after those embarrassing post-match scenes at West Ham.
    Steve Madeley, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Punk proceeded to beatdown and embarrass McIntyre, leading to Priest cashing in his Money in the Bank contract and winning the title from McIntyre.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • However reps of his team refuted the statement to Us Weekly.
    Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 17 Apr. 2025
  • But two witnesses refuted his story, alleging Stribling tried to hide evidence.
    Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Pritzker’s roughly 10-minute interview followed a week when Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs roiled stock markets and left American investors, businesses and the nation’s trading partners perplexed about what the president is attempting to achieve.
    Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Curious onlookers can expect to catch a glimpse of the full moon's peak at 8:22 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on April 12, 2025, yet the lack of a rosy hue may leave many people perplexed.
    Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The case had long been viewed by Palin and other conservatives as a possible vehicle to overturn the 1964 U.S. Supreme Court landmark New York Times v. Sullivan.
    Luc Cohen, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Still to be determined is Vessel’s plan in Glastonbury; the town rejected it, and Vessel won a Superior Court lawsuit to overturn that decision.
    Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Across the street, her husband Steve, who nursed Molly through her first fight with breast cancer a few years earlier, sits bewildered in the office of their couples therapist.
    Judy Berman, Time, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Carlie thinks the whole thing is hilarious, and Chelsea remains bewildered by any King Cake Baby obsession.
    Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 20 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Biden’s actions continue to discredit the legitimacy of our judicial system.
    Carl Burdette, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2025
  • The current page suggests this paper's explicit intention was to discredit the lab leak theory and remove any doubt that the origins were of natural origin.
    Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The idea that children are not routinely exposed to stories about gender and sexuality would baffle anyone with even a passing familiarity with the Disney canon.
    Ian Millhiser, Vox, 15 Apr. 2025
  • With a fastball that tops out around 87 mph, Barrett finds other ways to baffle hitters.
    Dave Melton, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Confound.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confound. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

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