confuse

[kuhn-fyooz]

verb (used with object)

confused, confusing 

1. to perplex or bewilder.

   The flood of questions confused me.

   Synonyms: nonplus, mystify

2. to make unclear or indistinct.

   The rumors and angry charges tended to confuse the issue.

3. to fail to distinguish between; associate by mistake; confound.

   to confuse dates;

   He always confuses the twins.

4. to disconcert or abash.

   His candor confused her.

   Synonyms: shame, mortify, embarrass

5. to combine without order; jumble; disorder.

   Try not to confuse the papers on the desk.

   Synonyms: disturb, disarrange, disarray

6. Archaic.,  to bring to ruin or naught.

confuse

/ kənˈfjuːz /

verb

1. to bewilder; perplex

2. to mix up (things, ideas, etc); jumble

3. to make unclear

   he confused his talk with irrelevant details

4. to fail to recognize the difference between; mistake (one thing) for another

5. to disconcert; embarrass

6. to cause to become disordered

   the enemy ranks were confused by gas

Other Word Forms

• confusable adjective
• confusability noun
• confusably adverb
• preconfuse verb (used with object)
• reconfuse verb (used with object)
• unconfusable adjective
• unconfusably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of confuse¹

First recorded in 1300–50; from Old French confus “perplexed,” from Latin confūsus “mixed, poured,” past participle of confundere; confound

Word History and Origins

Origin of confuse¹

C18: back formation from confused, from Latin confūsus mingled together, from confundere to pour together; see _confound

Synonym Study

Confuse, disconcert, embarrass imply temporary interference with the clear working of one's mind. To confuse is to produce a general bewilderment: to confuse someone by giving complicated directions. To disconcert is to disturb one's mind by irritation, perplexities, etc.: to disconcert someone by asking irrelevant questions. To embarrass is to cause one to be ill at ease or uncomfortable, so that one's usual judgment and presence of mind desert one: to embarrass someone by unexpected rudeness.

Example Sentences

Many doctors lamented how once-clear vaccine guidelines have become muddled and confusing.

From Los Angeles Times

It found the number of fundraising appeal pages issued by Depher were "confusing for donors", and that the firm did not have a system in place to learn from complaints.

From BBC

Now we have 10 times the viewers and we’re No. 1, so in my mind I’m going, I want the same sensibility, but I don’t want to completely confuse the viewers.

From Los Angeles Times

"Trying to work out his motives, other than trying to get back as much of his losses as he can, is a bit confusing."

From BBC

The rapidly changing landscape is leaving many consumers confused about their options and the deadlines.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amaze 
• astonish 
• baffle 
• befuddle 
• bemuse 
• complicate 
• confound 
• daze 
• demoralize 
• disconcert 
• disorient 
• distract 
• embarrass 
• fluster 
• frustrate 
• involve 
• misinform 
• mislead 
• mortify 
• muddle