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
Viewed from orbit, Jackass Flats — situated in southern Nevada about 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas — could easily be confused for Mars.
—
Big Think, 15 Oct. 2025
This brings the total to more than $2 million raised to influence the outcome of Referendum 310, funding a wave of misleading ads aimed at confusing voters.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
Trump’s address to the Knesset closed a chapter on the two-year war, but Uriel Abulof, professor of politics at Tel-Aviv University, told that what was agreed between Israel and Hamas should not be confused for a peace deal.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
To confuse that creative expression with criminal intent is to weaponize culture against the very people who created it.
—Dina Lapolt, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Big Think, 15 Oct. 2025
This brings the total to more than $2 million raised to influence the outcome of Referendum 310, funding a wave of misleading ads aimed at confusing voters.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
Trump’s address to the Knesset closed a chapter on the two-year war, but Uriel Abulof, professor of politics at Tel-Aviv University, told that what was agreed between Israel and Hamas should not be confused for a peace deal.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
To confuse that creative expression with criminal intent is to weaponize culture against the very people who created it.
—Dina Lapolt, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
Verb
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The sense of arbitrariness that had previously bewildered and frustrated me was drowned out by excitement and sheer aesthetic pleasure.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
7 Oct. 2025
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Cody Meissner, a pediatric professor at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine who has served on ACIP in the past—arguably the most qualified of Kennedy's new lineup—was bewildered at why the committee was rehashing the issue addressed years ago.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Sparked by a budget impasse, the shutdown’s ripple effects are now reaching state-level programs, with funding delays and legal constraints complicating the picture.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
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Growing up, Preston and Jayden often accompanied their mom on tour and visited during her Las Vegas residency, but Federline and Spears' co-parenting relationship has often been complicated.—
Emily Krauser,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The woman mistook him for an Uber driver and got in his car, according to deputies.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
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Though not much is known about their relationship, the famed Sex and the City actress had played into a funny moment when 60 Minutes mistook her for Justin's mother, Margaret, in a retrospective.—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Bears lost this matchup in embarrassing fashion last year as the Commanders completed a Hail Mary with time expiring.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
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The games themselves are embarrassing enough to watch.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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He was also accused of disrupting a second informational table hosted by a student group, according to Illinois State University Police.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
20 Oct. 2025
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Kathryn Palmer The shutdown unfortunately disrupted my weekend plans to check out the FDR Presidential Library in upstate New York, but the gorgeous fall weather in the area was a welcome consolation.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Illston appeared frustrated and perplexed by the government's unwillingness to engage on the merits during the hearing.—
Andrea Hsu,
NPR,
15 Oct. 2025
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The 18 runs plundered off one over was the most Jasprit Bumrah had ever conceded in Tests, leaving the bowler perplexed as he was replaced.—
Sam Dalling,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For a garden that blurs the lines between traditional and modern, combine a clean hardscape with aged materials and spilling plants.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Oct. 2025
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Animated characters like Tony the Tiger, Count Chocula and Fred Flintstone blurred the line between ads and morning cartoons.—
Alice Callahan,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Nor is he flustered when the offense stalls.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
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Listed at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Trigg is on a hot streak with 60-plus yards in three straight games, including 155 yards against a Kansas State defense that flustered TCU on Saturday in Manhattan.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuse. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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