1
as in to bewilder
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the similar-sounding words "censure" and "censor" often confuse people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to complicate
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to mistake
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related
a lot of people confuse popular fame with enduring achievement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to embarrass
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
she was confused by the shocking bluntness of his marriage proposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
vandals had hopelessly confused the papers in the office files
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confuse
So, a few weeks after that season ended, he was confused when a Phillies official phoned him.
—
Matt Gelb, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
The official foldout map, showing locations of the exhibits, seems designed to confuse.
—Elaine Sciolino, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 2025
This should not be confused as some kind of part-time mentoring role, like someone coming in to give a speech once in a while and then clearing off.
—Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
Don't let the term air fryer confuse you: These things are pretty much just small convection ovens that use fans to circulate hot air around your food in order to cook it evenly and efficiently.
—Emily Farris, Bon Appétit, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Matt Gelb, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
The official foldout map, showing locations of the exhibits, seems designed to confuse.
—Elaine Sciolino, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 2025
This should not be confused as some kind of part-time mentoring role, like someone coming in to give a speech once in a while and then clearing off.
—Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
Don't let the term air fryer confuse you: These things are pretty much just small convection ovens that use fans to circulate hot air around your food in order to cook it evenly and efficiently.
—Emily Farris, Bon Appétit, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
Verb
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Unenlightened of the brownie’s incredible taste, I was bewildered by the perfect combination of these three types of chocolate.—
Mia Leimkuhler,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2025
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The appeal bewilders attorneys for the 300,000 plaintiffs who each missed out on $3,000 when DeWine cut off the benefits in June 2021 — 10 weeks before they were set to expire.—
Sam Allard,
Axios,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The questions were as straightforward as the technicalities were complicated: how should Gaza be governed and reconstructed after the Israel-Hamas war is over, without having to resort to ethnic cleansing?—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2025
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The love triangle is already complicated by the intrusive memories of Mark’s outie, who is pining after the specter of his dead wife, Gemma (Dichen Lachman), but the situation reaches unprecedented messiness after Helena Eagan tracks down Mark’s outie in a restaurant and flirts with him.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Misdiagnosis of early symptoms – In long-term care, Listeria symptoms like fever and muscle aches can be mistaken for general health decline, delaying treatment.—
Stephanie Gravalese,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
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The abruptness of their removal from the facility, however, shouldn’t be mistaken for a broader lack of planning.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
The New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2025
Verb
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And the All-Star game embarrassed everyone who has ever picked up a basketball.—
Troy Renck,
The Denver Post,
1 Mar. 2025
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Callers are encouraged to share details that range from embarrassing to criminal.—
Oline H. Cogdill,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), individuals may not block access to sidewalks or buildings, disrupt counterprotests, or engage in speech that is obscene, makes knowingly false statements of fact, or incites immediate violence or dangerous disturbances.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Mar. 2025
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Every year, earthquakes claim victims and cost billions in direct economic loss, damaging or destroying homes, tearing down infrastructure, rendering production sites inoperable, and disrupting transport lines.—
David Bressan,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, a Queens Democrat who has recently stepped up her criticism of the mayor, was perplexed by his refusal to slam Trump’s recent actions.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
21 Jan. 2025
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Several drones were reportedly spotted in the skies above a Connecticut suburb Thursday night, adding to recent sightings that have perplexed residents and raised questions about possible national security and public safety concerns.—
Louis Casiano,
Fox News,
13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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This Maserati aims to blur the lines between track and street, and the scenery along with it.—
Lawrence Ulrich,
Robb Report,
4 Mar. 2025
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But this divide is fading as the lines between the two continue to blur.—
Amit Ashkenazi,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In East Hampton, a 1964 house with a pair of steeply angled roofs displayed a severe flair that must have flustered the neighbors in nearby cottages.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
26 Feb. 2025
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If someone isn’t flustered by [nontraditional interview questions] and can have really strategic and thoughtful conversations ...—
Megan Sauer,
CNBC,
3 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to confuse
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuse. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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