Synonym Chooser

How is the word confide distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of confide are commit, consign, entrust, and relegate. While all these words mean "to assign to a person or place for a definite purpose," confide implies entrusting with great assurance or reliance.

confided complete control of my affairs to my attorney

When is commit a more appropriate choice than confide?

While in some cases nearly identical to confide, commit may express the general idea of delivering into another's charge or the special sense of transferring to a superior power or to a special place of custody.

committed the felon to prison

When could consign be used to replace confide?

While the synonyms consign and confide are close in meaning, consign suggests removing from one's control with formality or finality.

consigned the damaging notes to the fire

Where would entrust be a reasonable alternative to confide?

In some situations, the words entrust and confide are roughly equivalent. However, entrust implies committing with trust and confidence.

the president is entrusted with broad powers

When would relegate be a good substitute for confide?

The words relegate and confide are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, relegate implies a consigning to a particular class or sphere often with a suggestion of getting rid of.

relegated to an obscure position in the company

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 confide One Shiite woman who fled the south and is now living in a rented home in the mountains confided her disappointment to me. Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2024 In the preceding months, the teenager had reportedly become emotionally attached to the chatbot, confiding his most private thoughts in it. Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 Over tea with Zoe, Cheryl confides that much of her life has been spent, well, in the dark. Sarene Leeds, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2024 Thimig then confided to Lothar that the Alpine farmer was Reuss. Tomas Weber, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for confide 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confide
Verb
  • But instead of throwing the flowers over her head into the crowd, Krause turned around and handed them to Brink.
    Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 30 Jan. 2025
  • States are handing multimillion-dollar contracts to a handful of fledgling private companies to manage the rapidly growing, convoluted marketplace of school-choice programs.
    Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 30 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • According to the authors, the spiders appeared to have left their webs or lairs and migrated to die when exposed to the fungus.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 30 Jan. 2025
  • Decades of a focus on development, especially in rural areas, has left the U.S. ill prepared for the challenges presented by climate change.
    Johnathan K Williams / Made by History, TIME, 30 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Acquiring Plum gives a veteran guard to the Sparks young core of Rickea Jackson and Cameron Brink and reunites her with her former Aces teammate Dearica Hamby.
    Doug Feinberg, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025
  • The rise in right-wing extremism — not least in Germany, where the far-right AfD party is running second in the polls — gives The Investigation a current relevance, but director Kahl says current politics was not on his mind.
    Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • In August that same year, her employer transferred her to the position of night guest laundry attendant at a wage of $16.50 an hour.
    Cathie Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 24 Jan. 2025
  • But strikers Carlos Vinicius, Islam Slimani and, to an extent, Darwin Nunez have struggled to transfer their Primeira Liga form in Portugal to the Premier League.
    The Athletic UK Staff, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Corey Perry scored on Tuesday and was coming off one of his better outings of the season, Knoblauch trusts Mattias Janmark’s two-way game and Vasily Podkolzin had usurped Skinner as Draisaitl’s winger by the eighth game of the season.
    Matthew Fairburn, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
  • The group warns prospective owners to expect their mini pig to become larger than estimated, and not to trust a breeder who promises their pig will remain tiny.
    John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Such a philosophy entrusts players with discretion.
    Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
  • The game of pushing the boundaries was entrusted to headwear, from beanies to cowboy hats and sculptural pillboxes.
    Alex Badia, WWD, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Galinsky highlights how inspiring leaders delegate responsibility and celebrate others’ successes.
    Alain Hunkins, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
  • By his own admission, Johnson has needed time to improve his ability to delegate tasks and retain trust in the assistant coaches around him.
    Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • And then a memory comes — some reminder, big or small, of the million ways in which Sarah Best had changed her life; even just seeing The Wild Robot on streaming and remembering how her sister had recommended the movie — and the entire unthinkable tragedy instantly hits her all over again.
    Wendy Grossman Kantor, People.com, 2 Feb. 2025
  • Taste is subjective, and USA TODAY Books has plenty of genres to recommend.
    Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near confide

Cite this Entry

“Confide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confide. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on confide

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