1
as in baffling
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 complicating
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mistaking
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 embarrassing
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 disrupting
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
vandals had hopelessly confused the papers in the office files
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in difficult
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in perplexing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confusing
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025
Despite loving the brand, the process felt like an afterthought—confusing policy language, multiple touchpoints and no proactive communication.
—Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 25 Sep. 2025
No need to struggle with confusing buttons, as this option has a turn knob switch at the base for easy turning on and off.
—Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
For many outside observers, the ban may seem confusing and contradictory.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
The road to social media was a hazy and confusing merging of these two types of websites.
—ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2025
That time was confusing as a young man.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
This -- to someone who is not steeped in public health, this whole conversation and process is really confusing.
—ABC News, 21 Sep. 2025
After a couple of days of confusing reports from FBI Director Kash Patel, a suspect was arrested.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2025
Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 25 Sep. 2025
Advertisement The recent announcement only compounds the harm, confusing parents and diverting attention and resources from questions that could actually bring answers.
—Dr. Craig Spencer, Time, 23 Sep. 2025
One member also said the voting language wasn’t clear and could lead to confusing guidance.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2025
Maybe the content isn’t relevant, the structure is confusing or the site speed is too slow.
—Karan Sharma, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Beneficiaries would have to verify their own identities by using an often-confusing web portal or by traveling to a field office to do it in person.
—Eli Hager, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2025
But there's no escaping how underwhelming and confusing the offense looked against a Titans team that went 3-14 last season.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
In such a large, complex, dangerous, and confusing world, can one person make a difference to anything?
—Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
An overly tired new mother shared how postpartum delusion left her confusing her newborn with her pet in a viral video.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
The agency said the company relied on confusing interfaces and obscure disclosures.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025
Despite loving the brand, the process felt like an afterthought—confusing policy language, multiple touchpoints and no proactive communication.
—Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 25 Sep. 2025
No need to struggle with confusing buttons, as this option has a turn knob switch at the base for easy turning on and off.
—Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
For many outside observers, the ban may seem confusing and contradictory.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
The road to social media was a hazy and confusing merging of these two types of websites.
—ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2025
That time was confusing as a young man.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
This -- to someone who is not steeped in public health, this whole conversation and process is really confusing.
—ABC News, 21 Sep. 2025
After a couple of days of confusing reports from FBI Director Kash Patel, a suspect was arrested.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
At one point at the state banquet, the president was seen confusing Camilla and Kate.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 25 Sep. 2025
Advertisement The recent announcement only compounds the harm, confusing parents and diverting attention and resources from questions that could actually bring answers.
—Dr. Craig Spencer, Time, 23 Sep. 2025
One member also said the voting language wasn’t clear and could lead to confusing guidance.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2025
Maybe the content isn’t relevant, the structure is confusing or the site speed is too slow.
—Karan Sharma, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Beneficiaries would have to verify their own identities by using an often-confusing web portal or by traveling to a field office to do it in person.
—Eli Hager, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2025
But there's no escaping how underwhelming and confusing the offense looked against a Titans team that went 3-14 last season.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
In such a large, complex, dangerous, and confusing world, can one person make a difference to anything?
—Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
An overly tired new mother shared how postpartum delusion left her confusing her newborn with her pet in a viral video.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confusing
Verb
-
In May, Kennedy vowed to find what caused autism by September, baffling scientists who near-unanimously believe there is no one cause of the condition.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
22 Sep. 2025
-
This is stuttering, crashing and other issues, even on high-end hardware way above recommended specs, which is baffling some.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The shutdown could also delay the release of key economic data, further complicating policymakers’ decision making.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Also complicating the groundwork was the discovery of Native American artifacts on the property, Corn said.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Her father had bought it at the county fair; the vender, mistaking it for yet another replica Native ceremonial mask, had all but given it away.—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Hough also noted that he was distracted by the It's Complicated star's presence in the audience, persistently mistaking the actor for his own father.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
No one had fooled Coppola into embarrassing himself publicly — although there’s always a risk, when a powerful figure surrounds himself with yes-people, that no one is left to push back and challenge his choices.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
19 Sep. 2025
-
This still was a much stronger performance by the Fins than last week’s embarrassing 33-8 defeat in Indianapolis, but that was a low bar to leap.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In contrast, older workers—typically occupying more senior or specialized roles—show little anxiety about AI disrupting their employment.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
24 Sep. 2025
-
At least 12 people died as heavy rain lashed the eastern Indian city of Kolkata and surrounding areas ahead of a major festival, flooding streets, disrupting transport and leaving residents stranded for hours, officials said Wednesday.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Abrego Garcia’s lawyers have argued that travel to Moshannon is far more difficult for members of the defense team based in Nashville, and not easier for those in New York.—
Christine Valora,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Senator Collins has proven in the past to be able to win in very difficult environments, 2008 being an example of that.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The phenomenon is called seasonal asynchrony, and a new study finds these perplexing locations appear in tropical mountains of countries like Costa Rica as well as places like California that have Mediterranean climates.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
22 Sep. 2025
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The Quiz In one of the more perplexing acquisitions this year, early 2000s music sharing platform LimeWire acquired the rights to the infamous Fyre Festival in an auction this week.—
Maggie McGrath,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And aren’t our real-life romantic complications bewildering enough?—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Its ginormous investments in higher-value, tech-heavy sectors from smartphones to autos to semiconductors to biotechnology are disrupting the global landscape at bewildering speed.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confusing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confusing. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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