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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of confuse
The decision threatened to confuse voters, according to judges who dissented from the decision.
—
Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024
The trick is to work out how the complicated mess of standards, confusing acronyms, and sci-fi-sounding features translate to better Wi-Fi in your home.
—Simon Hill, WIRED, 2 Nov. 2024
Collecting Digital Pokemon Cards Don’t confuse Pokemon TCG Pocket with Pokemon TCG Live, the previous and now outdated Pokemon card game mobile app.
—PCMAG, 1 Nov. 2024
It’s believed people put out treats to appease these wandering spirits and masked and costumed themselves to confuse any evil Earth wanderers.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for confuse 
Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024
The trick is to work out how the complicated mess of standards, confusing acronyms, and sci-fi-sounding features translate to better Wi-Fi in your home.
—Simon Hill, WIRED, 2 Nov. 2024
Collecting Digital Pokemon Cards Don’t confuse Pokemon TCG Pocket with Pokemon TCG Live, the previous and now outdated Pokemon card game mobile app.
—PCMAG, 1 Nov. 2024
It’s believed people put out treats to appease these wandering spirits and masked and costumed themselves to confuse any evil Earth wanderers.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for confuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
Verb
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Americans and Brits, being less royalist and more empirical in temperament, are bewildered by the general French understanding that the top thinker is supposed to be imperious and maximalist.Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
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She remains moved by a frank conversation with a boat captain in Copenhagen who was bewildered about people in the US having registries for honeymoons and also births.Rosie Bell, WIRED, 22 Sep. 2024
Verb
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The transfer only further complicates what has been a chaotic year between the two companies.Melvin Backman, Quartz, 12 Nov. 2024
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That complicates the summit’s ambition to resolve the priority agenda item — a deal for up to $1 trillion in annual climate finance for developing countries, replacing a target of $100 billion.Reuters, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Verb
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My favorite bit was Rajpal Yadav’s Chhote Pandit and Sanjay Mishra’s Bade Pandit mistaking Manjulika for the latter’s wife, Panditayeen, and asking her to make daal (lentils), only to get slapped hard by the ghost.Anupama Chopra, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
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But there is no mistaking this as a reaction to the camp or thoughts of his grandmother; Majdanek only gave him a little shove.Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Once again, get ready to avoid embarrassing the CFO.Martha Amram, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
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The Bears lost in humiliating fashion on Sunday, but a player's behavior late in the game has embarrassed fans more than the actual loss. Driving the news: With the Bears one play away from victory, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was caught taunting the D.C. crowd.Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 28 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Harris supporters called Trump a threat to democracy for his refusal to concede his 2020 loss to Biden, unfounded election fraud claims and his supporters’ Capitol riot to disrupt Biden’s presidential certification.Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
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Trump's false claims of victory came to a head on January 6, 2021, when a mob of his supporters rioted inside the U.S. Capitol to disrupt the formal confirmation of Biden as the winner of the 2020 election.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Many fans seemed to be perplexed by the performance, as many remained seated.Michael Saponara, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2024
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These aren’t the only causes of the crash, which has left the community perplexed about the cause and any potential fixes or precautions users can take.Ewan Spence, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Simply sweep on your favorite hue with your finger tips and blend at the crease for blurred, yet vivid color in seconds.Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2024
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His transformation is both physical and psychological, a deterioration that blurs humanity and monstrosity, pushing boundaries of on-screen horror with a level of realism enhanced by Chris Walas’ groundbreaking practical effects, which garnered an Academy Award for Best Makeup.Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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For that reason, presidents and secretaries of state have often been annoyed or flustered by it.Gary J. Bass, Foreign Affairs, 3 Feb. 2017
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This is the same Minnesota defense that flustered a roster that had Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal on the same team.Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 May 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuse. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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