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
And like so many other SNAP recipients — and pantry owners, as well as the politicians writing the bill — Natasha McClendon was confused.
—
Sophie Levenson, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
With this revelation, fans are confused as to why Ave and Cole would stage such a thing.
—Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 17 July 2025
Sparrow should not be confused with Krypto, Superman’s four-legged companion in the film.
—Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 16 July 2025
Amazon $650 Samsung $650 Best Buy Not to be confused with the Galaxy S24 series, this midrange smartphone from late 2024 has some elements of the flagship phone, but makes some sacrifices to get the price down.
—Simon Hill, Wired News, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Sophie Levenson, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
With this revelation, fans are confused as to why Ave and Cole would stage such a thing.
—Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 17 July 2025
Sparrow should not be confused with Krypto, Superman’s four-legged companion in the film.
—Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 16 July 2025
Amazon $650 Samsung $650 Best Buy Not to be confused with the Galaxy S24 series, this midrange smartphone from late 2024 has some elements of the flagship phone, but makes some sacrifices to get the price down.
—Simon Hill, Wired News, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
Verb
-
As Epstein continues to dog his presidency, Trump says he’s bewildered by the attention.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
25 July 2025
-
Her camera is so incisive, always peeling back the veneers of polite conversation to reveal the messy, often contradictory emotions that drive us, that bewilder us.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Verb
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This complicates things because Brianna can’t shake the feeling that maybe Roman was sent to spy on them.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Essence,
31 July 2025
-
Analysts see signs of a shift toward easing—possibly beginning in September—but warn that President Trump’s fiscal policies may complicate Fed chair Jerome Powell’s efforts to control inflation, regardless of rate decisions.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
30 July 2025
Verb
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That corn, with bright red kernels that could be mistaken for pomegranate seeds, are what High Wire Distilling decided to use to make their signature bourbon.—
Don Tse,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Repeatedly mistaken by Fox Butterfield and others for David Burnett in the famous photograph, he can be seen on the right, wearing a helmet and urgently rewinding his camera.—
Gary Knight,
Rolling Stone,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Look, the Yankees didn’t embarrass themselves in a 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on Monday night.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
29 July 2025
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In the aftermath, the mother was angry for a week, accusing him of undermining her authority and embarrassing her in front of their social circle.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 July 2025
Verb
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The industry’s year of strikes in 2023 also disrupted the flow of Hollywood movie releases to the local multiplex.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
11 July 2025
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Frequent use can disrupt normal bowel function and lead to laxative dependence or chronic constipation.7 Only use castor oil under medical guidance.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Verywell Health,
11 July 2025
Verb
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At the time, I was perplexed and questioned if this was necessary.—
Susan Horava,
Health,
24 June 2025
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Ultimately, the remaining Islanders dumped Jeremiah and Hannah, a controversial move that left viewers at home perplexed as to why this decision was made.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
23 June 2025
Verb
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Tweaked as recently as 1992, the house deliberately blurs boundaries between interior and exterior, public and private, finished and unfinished.—
David Hochman,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
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AirPods blur the line between presence and absence, reducing opportunities for mindfulness.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 July 2025
Verb
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Siegemund, 37, plays an unorthodox style of tennis that can leave opponents flustered.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
8 July 2025
-
Golden State forced Clark into deep 3-point jumpers and flustered the visiting team with tenacious defense in the paint.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuse. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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