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
Drivers were confused by two yellow lines painted eight feet apart, as well as the reflectiveness of the black paint that covered over the old lines, Youmans said.
—
Rose Evans
updated May 28, Idaho Statesman, 28 May 2026
Aron, 37, said students are confused by school policies that simultaneously try to restrict AI use in class and push them to hone their expertise in it.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 28 May 2026
The brands that win — the ones that become genuinely iconic — are the ones that never confuse the two under pressure.
—Pete Suerken, Fortune, 28 May 2026
Stop confusing busy with productive Founders in the struggle zone are busy.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Rose Evans
updated May 28, Idaho Statesman, 28 May 2026
Aron, 37, said students are confused by school policies that simultaneously try to restrict AI use in class and push them to hone their expertise in it.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 28 May 2026
The brands that win — the ones that become genuinely iconic — are the ones that never confuse the two under pressure.
—Pete Suerken, Fortune, 28 May 2026
Stop confusing busy with productive Founders in the struggle zone are busy.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
Verb
-
Former Republican state senator Jeff Brandes, who now leads the Florida Policy Project, said he was bewildered by the governor's proposal.—
Jim DeFede,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
-
Gasly seems faintly bewildered by the designation.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Rain is forecast on Saturday afternoon, which could complicate the mission which involves navigating steep passageways within the cavern.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
But then things got complicated.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Alvarez, 41, was in MacArthur Park on May 18 when he was approached by two police officers, who initially mistook him as the suspect in a vehicle theft, according to a Justice Department news release and a criminal complaint filed Wednesday in the Central District of California.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
The problem is mistaking a large platform — or a fluent AI — for a qualified one, and letting that mistake drive decisions that actually matter.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Then to Sydney Harbour, the very scene of that embarrassing capsize exactly a year earlier, and the Americans won the event outright for a first win since October 2023.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
Some fans weighed in on his outfit choice on social media, sparking conversations about if the actor might have embarrassed his wife.—
Juliana Ukiomogbe,
InStyle,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Closure of the strait, at the southern end of the Red Sea and a critical gateway to the Suez Canal, could significantly disrupt global trade.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
-
The British Museum elected to postpone a Jewish Culture Month event that was scheduled to take place last Thursday, May 28th due to concerns that the talk—a lecture on Ancient Israel and Judah—might be disrupted by protests.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
As a longtime rider I, too, am perplexed by regular displays of poor customer service by CTA employees.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
-
As Season 3 of Euphoria continues to stir up some controversy, one of the show’s stars is perplexed by Cassie’s (Sydney Sweeney) OnlyFans storyline.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And as the lines between online content and traditional television continue to blur, some of the platform’s biggest creators are not waiting around for the industry to get on board.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
30 May 2026
-
That person moved to Montclair or Hudson or Bucks County and is on a Zoom call right now, background blurred, wondering why their new hire seems so lost.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Colbert was flustered, to say the least, during the interview afterward.—
Maira Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
-
The Pistons’ defense is swarming and flustering the Cavs.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuse. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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