confuse 1 of 3

1
2
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
5

confusing

2 of 3

adjective

confusing

3 of 3

verb (2)

present participle of confuse
1
2
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
5

Examples 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 confuse
Verb
The need at defensive tackle was glaring, and helping address that will be Davis — not to be confused with Kalia Davis, the 49ers’ third-year veteran who has played four games on the defensive interior. Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024 Not to be confused with the Josh Hutcherson Saturday Night Live sketch that’s almost impossible to find online, the tragedy of Peanut, an Instagram-famous squirrel that was euthanized late last month, has sent the internet into mourning. Kate Lindsay, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024 Down clusters are three-dimensional spirals, not to be confused with feathers, which are flat, provide no loft, and poke through fabric. Marni Jameson, arkansasonline.com, 2 Nov. 2024 While the technical side of blockchain may still confuse most people, the concept of digital currency is mainstream. Lisa Loud, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for confuse 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
Adjective
  • The melodic lines, particularly for brass, are very difficult to navigate.
    Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • High frequencies are more difficult to block out than other tones, as high-end noise-cancelling headphones from Apple, Bose, and Sony perform similarly.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Your diet beverage is full of a slew of perplexing sugar substitutes, but the regular version has too much sugar to justify drinking it.
    Andrew Watman, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
  • These questions have seemed both urgent and perplexing, not only to Ramos but to many others as well; whether Trump will repeat or exceed his performance with Latinos is one of the main unknowns that could determine the outcome of the election.
    Geraldo Cadava, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • The problem is particularly troublesome in areas of the country without doctors, nurses, midwives or medical centers specializing in maternity care.
    Erika Edwards, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
  • The big issue was that getting to those hard-to-reach areas was troublesome.
    Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • The little information the police did reveal was often confusing, baffling, even contradictory.
    Aja Romano, Vox, 11 Nov. 2024
  • Walker’s campaign, however, was plagued by controversies and baffling and false statements.
    Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Her pregnancies are painful and unpleasant, especially compared to Lenù’s.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
  • One way to avoid unpleasant surprises is to keep your restaurant order simple.
    Sarah Garone, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • These conflicting versions created a puzzling cognitive dissonance.
    Lane Sainty, The Arizona Republic, 3 Nov. 2024
  • Even just one single vote elicits the most puzzling look on the guy’s face… and a sweet, sweet smile on Sol’s.
    Nick Caruso, TVLine, 23 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Travel conditions in some areas were expected to be difficult if not impossible.
    Bruce Finley, The Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Some worry that this will put an impossible burden on public welfare and health care systems and on younger generations who will have to care for a huge population of older people.
    Vegard Skirbekk, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Anyone 35 or older will remember these toys being chunkier and unwieldy but, thankfully, times have changed.
    Toby Rose, Parents, 24 Oct. 2024
  • Professional models can reach well over 20 feet, but these can be unwieldy and not really suitable for homeowners.
    Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near confuse

Cite this Entry

“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuse. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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