1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
4
as in to refute
to prove to be false
new discoveries that confound much of what archaeologists thought they knew about the Mayan civilization
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
That requires replication, statistical association, dose-response evidence, biological plausibility, and efforts to rule out confounding.
—
Alex Smolak,
STAT,
27 June 2026
Another step down from there is Brown, who has explosive speed to confound defenders, but his subpar frame (190 pounds) and ball-security issues gave me pause.
—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Tapping into the sporting zeitgeist, the slapstick animation, sees Daffy Duck confounded when Elmer Fudd fails to turn up for duck hunting season.
—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
It’s suspected this was a security measure, meant to confound robbers.
—
Mark Price
updated June 22,
Charlotte Observer,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for confound
Alex Smolak,
STAT,
27 June 2026
Another step down from there is Brown, who has explosive speed to confound defenders, but his subpar frame (190 pounds) and ball-security issues gave me pause.
—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Tapping into the sporting zeitgeist, the slapstick animation, sees Daffy Duck confounded when Elmer Fudd fails to turn up for duck hunting season.
—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
It’s suspected this was a security measure, meant to confound robbers.
—
Mark Price
updated June 22,
Charlotte Observer,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for confound
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confound
Verb
-
The decision reverses a June 15 determination by Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher, who concluded the Petersburg resident's candidacy was intended to confuse voters rather than represent a legitimate campaign.
-
The senator and allies, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee, have condemned the challenger’s efforts to join the race, arguing his presence could confuse voters.
Verb
-
The Chicago White Sox, a team many left for dead at the start of the year, embarrassed the Kansas City Royals Friday night, 22-1.
-
But combined with Disney‘s embarrassing The Mandalorian and Grogu influencer stunt that backfired, a movie’s first reactions on social media are increasingly being met with equal amounts of fan skepticism.
Verb
-
Two other retired judges later published their own piece refuting Gilliard’s contention.
-
Fortunately, video replay allows people to validate—or refute—a referee’s decision.
Verb
-
And Wednesday’s doubleheader — thanks to a Monday rainout that perplexed Counsell — certainly didn’t help the pitching staff.
-
Sometimes those editing swings make sense, like incorporating more social-media posts and group chats, but other times the stylistic choices simply perplex.
Verb
-
Tuesday’s ruling means the regulations cannot take effect unless the decision is overturned on appeal.
-
Cleveland manager Terry Francona challenged the original safe call at second and got the play overturned after a replay delay that lasted 1 minute, 29 seconds.
Verb
-
For three years straight, he’s kept up a pace that bewilders the industry’s leading comics.
-
The narrator and his wife find that their attachment to the charismatic and cryptic Chibi grows with the cat’s increasing visits, in a way that bewilders them but somehow bonds them closer together.
Verb
-
Instead, they are encouraged to view blue zones primarily through the lens of a sloppy critique that has already been discredited.
-
This doesn’t discredit the fact that mental and physical changes from menopause can be disorienting and jarring.
Verb
-
His focus on the voting bill, instead of signing one that tackles a top issue for voters, has left some GOP strategists baffled.
-
Keith played conservative social climber Margo Leadbetter, who is baffled by her neighbor Tom's sustainability-centric lifestyle with wife Barbara Good (Felicity Kendal).
Cite this Entry
“Confound.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confound. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
