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
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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
Handed a glass of Big Salt, I was confused upon experiencing the aromatics.
—
Emily Cappiello, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
It's confused by humans and wants to get away from them.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Biden confused Iraq with Ukraine, with a former aide correcting him, and later dropped an ice cream bar.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Janine is confused by his discomfort at first, but encourages Gregory to talk it out with Martin.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Emily Cappiello, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
It's confused by humans and wants to get away from them.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Biden confused Iraq with Ukraine, with a former aide correcting him, and later dropped an ice cream bar.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Janine is confused by his discomfort at first, but encourages Gregory to talk it out with Martin.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
Verb
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Across the street, her husband Steve, who nursed Molly through her first fight with breast cancer a few years earlier, sits bewildered in the office of their couples therapist.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 Mar. 2025
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Carlie thinks the whole thing is hilarious, and Chelsea remains bewildered by any King Cake Baby obsession.—
Chelsea Brasted,
Axios,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Missing their leading scorer and best player will complicate that pursuit.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
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Additionally, the digital scan has complicated a controversial narrative about a first officer on the Titanic: William Murdoch, who has long been accused of abandoning his post.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Automatique is a time-only three-hand watch, but don’t mistake its restrained elegance with being basic.—
Kristen Shirley,
Forbes.com,
11 Apr. 2025
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Those supporters were en route to a fifth-tier National League fixture (a big one — Southend have a shot at getting promoted back to the Football League) when Evan Johnston, a 21-year-old student from Arizona, mistook their boat for a cruise by a London landmarks tour company.—
Justin Guthrie,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Mariah Carey just pulled a classic mom move by embarrassing her teenage son in front of his friends.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
5 Apr. 2025
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The leaking was intended to embarrass Bork, whose nomination was ultimately rejected by the U.S. Senate albeit for reasons unrelated to his rental list.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Shearing emphasized that there are no true winners in a tariff war, as higher prices harm consumers and disrupt global supply chains.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
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Behind the scenes there was no doubt other dreams were dashed and processes disrupted.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Pritzker’s roughly 10-minute interview followed a week when Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs roiled stock markets and left American investors, businesses and the nation’s trading partners perplexed about what the president is attempting to achieve.—
Dan Petrella,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Apr. 2025
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Curious onlookers can expect to catch a glimpse of the full moon's peak at 8:22 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on April 12, 2025, yet the lack of a rosy hue may leave many people perplexed.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Though rooted in self-love, these trends can blur the line between care and consumerism.—
Jasmine Browley,
Essence,
26 Mar. 2025
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On the other hand, holding a company liable for one person’s speech blurs the line between individual and collective responsibility.—
Kwame Anthony Appiah,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Zmuda flustered Kaufman, throwing him off his rhythm, leading to more awkward silence and melancholy.—
Jason Zinoman,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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As for defense, Mission Hills flustered the hosts, forcing 17 turnovers.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuse. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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