CONFOUND Synonyms: 156 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

confound

verb

kən-ˈfau̇nd

Definition of confound next

as in to confuse

to throw into a state of mental uncertainty we were confounded by the player's remote control, which wasn't at all user-friendly

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to embarrass

to throw into a state of self-conscious distress his renewed popularity has confounded the critics who said his singing career was dead

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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

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as in to refute

to prove to be false new discoveries that confound much of what archaeologists thought they knew about the Mayan civilization

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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 The story follows a group of people trapped in a mysterious town where monsters haunt the streets and night and diabolical forces seem determined to terrorize and confound our heroes. —

Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026 Over the course of the experiment, Schlamminger spent years calibrating the equipment and troubleshooting the physical effects of characteristics such as temperature and pressure that could confound the measurements to prove these factors weren’t affecting the results. —

Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 7 May 2026 In both novels, young people are trying to figure out how life works, confounded by the arbitrariness of what is presented to them as natural. —

James Wood, New Yorker, 4 May 2026 Following those highs came a string of solid but unexciting records, which mostly stuck with Metric’s formula while adding the occasional left-field lyric about the Kool-Aid-drinking masses or confounding reference to QAnon. —

Ethan Beck, Pitchfork, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for confound

Recent Examples of Synonyms for confound

Verb

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
Cassidy complained Friday that the new primary system enacted last year was confusing voters by requiring them to ask for a partisan ballot instead of the previous all-party primary that had been in place.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 May 2026