1
as in cursed
deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure
that confounded dog chewed up my shoe
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in perplexed
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do
the sudden burden of familial responsibility has left him anxious and confounded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion
since their house is old and impressive-looking, they are frequently imposed upon by confounded tourists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in baffled
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in embarrassed
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 confused
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 refuted
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
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Recent Examples of confounded
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
The Vikings defense hounded Maye, a veteran unit that ranked second in takeaways last year and confounded veteran quarterbacks with its exotic pressure packages.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Aug. 2025
The displeasure of it gave way to absurdity, out of which emerged a mutual, confounded glee.
—Kent Russell, Harper's Magazine, 15 Sep. 2020
In Europe itself, Greece has so far confounded predictions by avoiding the kind of mass outbreaks that have claimed tens of thousands of lives in Italy, France, and Britain.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 2020
And with wild swings on Tuesday, the markets proved those predictions correct, a marker of how confounded investors appear as the covid-19 economic crisis takes a fuller form.
—Jacob Bogage, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Mar. 2020
The Germans are no less confounded than the Democrats.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 14 June 2019
Learn how to work the confounded thing at free Android smartphone workshops being held in South Florida, sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons.
—Doreen Christensen, Sun-Sentinel.com, 9 Mar. 2018
For decades, recovery stories like this confounded researchers, who characterized autism as a lifelong condition.
—Brendan Borrell, Slate Magazine, 22 Sep. 2017
James Hansen, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
But Goggin and other energy experts told CNN they have been confounded by the administration’s claims that electricity from coal is affordable.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
And no defense has confounded a stout Denver front this season like Los Angeles.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
His remarks have confounded Danish and Greenlandic officials.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Even if the jokes sometimes confounded people.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Netflix , meanwhile, remains a long-standing holding because the company has repeatedly confounded predictions of its demise.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 18 Nov. 2025
Without Irving available, Dallas head coach Jason Kidd has struggled to fully trust new point guard D'Angelo Russell (a summer signing by Harrison), whose trick-or-treat offense and lackluster defense have confounded several of his prior NBA stops.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
Surely there exist teenagers, as confounded by their classmates’ fascination with the number 67 as their parents, who simply Googled it.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Dosunmu operated at times like a one-man wrecking crew, forcing his way downhill in the half court and cracking open the Heat’s confounded defense in the flow of transition.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
The Vikings defense hounded Maye, a veteran unit that ranked second in takeaways last year and confounded veteran quarterbacks with its exotic pressure packages.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Aug. 2025
The displeasure of it gave way to absurdity, out of which emerged a mutual, confounded glee.
—Kent Russell, Harper's Magazine, 15 Sep. 2020
In Europe itself, Greece has so far confounded predictions by avoiding the kind of mass outbreaks that have claimed tens of thousands of lives in Italy, France, and Britain.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 2020
And with wild swings on Tuesday, the markets proved those predictions correct, a marker of how confounded investors appear as the covid-19 economic crisis takes a fuller form.
—Jacob Bogage, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Mar. 2020
The Germans are no less confounded than the Democrats.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 14 June 2019
Learn how to work the confounded thing at free Android smartphone workshops being held in South Florida, sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons.
—Doreen Christensen, Sun-Sentinel.com, 9 Mar. 2018
For decades, recovery stories like this confounded researchers, who characterized autism as a lifelong condition.
—Brendan Borrell, Slate Magazine, 22 Sep. 2017
Verb
Ecuador leading Australia on home courts in Quito, where the altitude and switch to clay from hard courts confounded James Duckworth and Rinky Hijikata against Alvaro Guillen Meza and Andres Andrade.
—James Hansen, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
But Goggin and other energy experts told CNN they have been confounded by the administration’s claims that electricity from coal is affordable.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
And no defense has confounded a stout Denver front this season like Los Angeles.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
His remarks have confounded Danish and Greenlandic officials.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Even if the jokes sometimes confounded people.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Netflix , meanwhile, remains a long-standing holding because the company has repeatedly confounded predictions of its demise.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 18 Nov. 2025
Without Irving available, Dallas head coach Jason Kidd has struggled to fully trust new point guard D'Angelo Russell (a summer signing by Harrison), whose trick-or-treat offense and lackluster defense have confounded several of his prior NBA stops.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
Surely there exist teenagers, as confounded by their classmates’ fascination with the number 67 as their parents, who simply Googled it.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confounded
Adjective
-
Throughout the game, players must sacrifice their own blood to use as ammunition against terrifying statues of saints that come to life in order to survive while unraveling the mystery of the cursed island of Tormentosa.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The sailorlike gown is, of course, adorned with a cursed amulet, which, if touched by a Faithful, will kill them.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But much like with the Belichick snub, NFL fans were as perplexed about Kraft being left off the ballot as well.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The five-time major champion remains perplexed by the poa annua greens and settled for a 68 on the easier North to make the cut on the number.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Olivier tried successfully to get the reader to understand how a gentle, pacific young man could come to kill more than a thousand people, and so capturing the tone and empathetic portrayal not only of Simo Häyhä and his colleagues but also of the often-bewildered Russian soldiers was essential.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The usually positive Gauff went negative, lacked energy and seemed bewildered and overwhelmed.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Even Proctor’s defense attorney seemed baffled by the district attorney’s office’s handling of the case.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
This disconnect, despite all appearances of a serious campaign, has left many Democrats baffled.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Their votes sunk Belichick’s chances and embarrassed the Hall of Fame in the process.—
Rob Maaddi,
Twin Cities,
28 Jan. 2026
-
However, the Yankees' title drought reached 16 seasons after getting embarrassed by the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Division Series, and calls for change were louder than ever.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The New England Patriots just couldn't muster much of an attack against a Seattle defense that appeared to have Drake Maye confused through much of the night, falling 29-13.—
Will Richmond,
The Providence Journal,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The California Department of Public Health is urging people to avoid mushroom foraging altogether this year because death cap mushrooms are easily confused with safe, edible varieties.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
These claims have been widely refuted by cancer experts, who have publicly stated that there is no scientific evidence or clinical trial data to support them at this time.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Local police and the city manager refuted the claims, saying there was no evidence to support them.—
Suzanne Gamboa,
NBC news,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
More than anything, though, Jessie is someone who clearly just really freaking loves to crosscountry ski.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
7 Jan. 2026
-
My freaking customers are now fans.—
Ana Colón,
Glamour,
18 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confounded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confounded. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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