Synonyms

conflate

American

[kuhn-fleyt] / kənˈfleɪt /

verb (used with object)

conflated, conflating

to fuse into one entity; merge.

to conflate dissenting voices into one protest.

conflate British

/ kənˈfleɪt /

verb

(tr) to combine or blend (two things, esp two versions of a text) so as to form a whole

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

conflation noun

Etymology

Origin of conflate

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin conflātus “fused together,” past participle of conflāre “to fuse together,” from con- con- + flāre “to blow” ( blow ² )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

You see this sort of language used when people conflate various definitions of globalism.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

It’s easy to conflate this with laziness or thoughtlessness.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 30, 2026

When you look at ICE and DHS in general, a lot of people tend to conflate them into one big blob of immigration enforcement.

From Slate • Jul. 21, 2025

Or be labeled a workaholic — I don’t relax easily and often conflate my worth to my productivity.

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2025

Sometimes again the Codex Zographensis is alone in curious readings which seem to be conflations of the texts found in the other two manuscripts, or based on a conflate Greek text.

From A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament, Vol. II. by Scrivener, Frederick Henry Ambrose

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023