1
as in difficult
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in perplexing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in baffling
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the similar-sounding words "censure" and "censor" often confuse people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complicating
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mistaking
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 embarrassing
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 disrupting
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
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 confusing
Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
However, following the path of Artemis II may be confusing as the astronauts, mission control and others use confusing jargon and phrases.
—Bymary Kekatos, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Talk about a confusing and frustrating market.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
One of the things that’s confusing sitting in the CEO chair is, the technologists themselves will tell you, in six months, everything will be different again.
—Fortune Editors, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Commercially uneven, and a bit confusing in terms of what viewers honestly want from horror entertainment these days, our year in fear isn’t even close to over.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 1 Apr. 2026
Compared to the 1990s — when studios had to worry mainly about theatrical, home video, cable and broadcast — the distribution model in 2026 seems much more confusing.
—Gustavo Turner, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
The most confusing thing about the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) may be the dress code.
—Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
The use of terms is also confusing.
—John Brandon, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026
Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 4 Apr. 2026
However, following the path of Artemis II may be confusing as the astronauts, mission control and others use confusing jargon and phrases.
—Bymary Kekatos, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Umpires have approached Brian Utley at baseball tournaments, confusing him for the older Chase Utley.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026
This device is a high-tech centrifuge that simulates microgravity by spinning vials with samples around two axes, effectively confusing the cells inside as to their position in space.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026
During the Second World War, the Allies put a special effort into confusing the Axis powers.
—David Szondy
march 25, New Atlas, 25 Mar. 2026
Neighbors also swept up and said the intersection is confusing for some drivers.
—Joe Holden, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
When recovery begins, consciousness tends to return in stages, and the experience can be confusing and disorienting for the person waking up.
—Kara Rogers , Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
Since the Affordable Care Act subsidies expired at the end of 2025, Americans have undoubtedly been encountering a great deal of confusing information surrounding health care costs and insurance plans.
—Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Until now, essentially all his comments about the four-week-old war have been contradictory, confusing, or just outright false.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
However, following the path of Artemis II may be confusing as the astronauts, mission control and others use confusing jargon and phrases.
—Bymary Kekatos, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Talk about a confusing and frustrating market.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
One of the things that’s confusing sitting in the CEO chair is, the technologists themselves will tell you, in six months, everything will be different again.
—Fortune Editors, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Commercially uneven, and a bit confusing in terms of what viewers honestly want from horror entertainment these days, our year in fear isn’t even close to over.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 1 Apr. 2026
Compared to the 1990s — when studios had to worry mainly about theatrical, home video, cable and broadcast — the distribution model in 2026 seems much more confusing.
—Gustavo Turner, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
The most confusing thing about the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) may be the dress code.
—Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
The use of terms is also confusing.
—John Brandon, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
As if that wasn’t confusing enough, not all Christians agree on what day of the calendar that specific Sunday is.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 4 Apr. 2026
However, following the path of Artemis II may be confusing as the astronauts, mission control and others use confusing jargon and phrases.
—Bymary Kekatos, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Umpires have approached Brian Utley at baseball tournaments, confusing him for the older Chase Utley.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026
This device is a high-tech centrifuge that simulates microgravity by spinning vials with samples around two axes, effectively confusing the cells inside as to their position in space.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026
During the Second World War, the Allies put a special effort into confusing the Axis powers.
—David Szondy
march 25, New Atlas, 25 Mar. 2026
Neighbors also swept up and said the intersection is confusing for some drivers.
—Joe Holden, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
When recovery begins, consciousness tends to return in stages, and the experience can be confusing and disorienting for the person waking up.
—Kara Rogers , Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
Since the Affordable Care Act subsidies expired at the end of 2025, Americans have undoubtedly been encountering a great deal of confusing information surrounding health care costs and insurance plans.
—Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confusing
Adjective
-
Christie acknowledged that the Kings were in a difficult position given their recent schedule injury situation.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Even putting the tank on the ice was more difficult this year.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The judging is vexing and perplexing.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Radziwill’s absence has been somewhat perplexing.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This inversion explains a host of baffling political and cultural phenomena of late.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The steel pipe's unexpected growth spurt was reported to police early Wednesday by a pedestrian who saw broken pieces of asphalt falling from the cylinder, baffling people passing by and causing traffic congestion.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Further complicating the dynamics is Wilson’s prior romance with co-star Ciara Miller, Batula’s close friend.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
-
As many as 20,000 Iranian civilians live on Kharg in ordinary times, complicating invasion planning.—
Nancy A. Youssef,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
American humor has always been a tool for questioning orthodoxy, challenging certainty and keeping people from mistaking their sacred stories for reality.—
Robert Lynch,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The result is, at best, a category error; at worst, a moral panic—mistaking architecture for art, and art for authority.—
Julian Rose,
Artforum,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Harbaugh has taken a blow torch to the Giants’ embarrassing special teams unit.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Fairchild played the free-wheeling bon vivant Nora Tyler Bing on five episodes of the sitcom classic, unwittingly embarrassing Perry's Chandler Bing to the delight of his pals.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Gangs control significant supply routes, disrupting access to medicine and equipment.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The cyberattack affected Stryker’s internal Microsoft software system, disrupting the company’s order processing, manufacturing and shipping.—
William Akoto,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Rolling off the treble knob helps a little, but even dialed back all the way, that upper-mids/low-treble range remains troublesome.—
Mark Knapp,
PC Magazine,
1 Apr. 2026
-
And the struggles up front affected what was already troublesome quarterback play after Conner Harrell’s knee injury in Week 4.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confusing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confusing. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
