confusing

[ kuhn-fyoo-zing ]

adjective

1. causing or tending to cause confusion:

   a confusing attempt at explanation.

Other Words From

• con·fusing·ly adverb
• con·fusing·ness noun
• uncon·fusing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of confusing¹

First recorded in 1840–50; confuse + -ing ²

Example Sentences

The patchwork of requirements and regulations can be legitimately frustrating and confusing to people.

From Vox

This is a little confusing, because both grower Champagnes and house Champagnes can be named after individual people.

From Eater

Of course, if the pilot has good visual cues of the world around them, any confusing sensations can be corrected.

From Popular-Science

What will be even more confusing is that some of the taxpayers may eventually have all or part of their stimulus payments seized, unlike those taxpayers whose payments have already been processed.

From Washington Post

Here in Maryland, the state expanded eligibility and added vaccination sites without having enough vaccine to cover them, and state officials have offered conflicting and confusing advice about who can get it, and how.

From Washington Post

The confusing thing, however, is Lopez has never been hotter.

From The Daily Beast

Because holy hell was that bland, unfunny, uncomfortable, and just plain confusing.

From The Daily Beast

That this kind of episode was The Newsroom finale was…confusing.

From The Daily Beast

We might as well begin with the most confusing and, frankly, suspect person in all of Serial.

From The Daily Beast

Taylor Swift: Aerobicized The 1980s were a confusing time for America.

From The Daily Beast

The action was at first a little confusing to Edna, but she soon lent herself readily to the Creole's gentle caress.

From Project Gutenberg

Bubbles of air are often confusing to beginners, but are easily recognized after once being seen.

From Project Gutenberg

He looked back—looked down—upon former emotions and activities; and hence the confusing alternating of jealousy and forgiveness.

From Project Gutenberg

She did leap them, running from one to another in a manner confusing to herself and doubly so to Dorothy, pursuing.

From Project Gutenberg

This ignorance was far more confusing and even misleading than it had been when its proportions were less defined.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• baffling
• bewildering
• complex
• complicated
• confounding
• difficult
• disconcerting
• perplexing
• upsetting