1
as in to bewilder
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the similar-sounding words "censure" and "censor" often confuse people
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to complicate
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts
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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
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4
as in to embarrass
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
she was confused by the shocking bluntness of his marriage proposal
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5
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
vandals had hopelessly confused the papers in the office files
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confuse
Many people also confuse dry scalp with dandruff, which is typically linked to excess oil or yeast.
—
Iman Balagam, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2026
The Tallarook Hilltop Tiny House 1 was designed by Australia's Build Tiny – not to be confused with the Kiwi firm of the same name.
—New Atlas, 8 Jan. 2026
And frankly, Cucinelli was confused.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
The Ferry Landing Associates sub-lease for the Maiden Coronado restaurant is not to be confused with a separate, contentious contract dispute between the larger Coronado Ferry Landing center and the San Diego Unified Port District.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
Verb
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But unlike his Sophoclean namesake, Orestes is bewildered by this escalation and refuses.—
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In April, the president was among those bewildered by his fall.—
Verb
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Elhawary acknowledged the billionaire tax proposal is a complicating factor in discussions about taxes, which is already a politically fraught issue.—
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Mental advocates pointed to one misunderstood aspect of a serious mental illness, which complicates ideas of patient autonomy and choice.—
Verb
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There could be no mistaking that this was a significant mismatch.—
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Further investigation revealed that the victim was on board a northbound train, mistaking it for a southbound train.—
Verb
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The report reiterated concerns about seven situations, two of which have been on the list since 2007, including the bureaucracy’s chronic inability to successfully employ information technology — embarrassing for a state that is the global center for digital tools.—
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The report reiterated concerns about seven situations, two of which have been on the list since 2007, including the bureaucracy’s chronic inability to successfully employ information technology — embarrassing for a state that is the global center for digital tools.—
Verb
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Bullet train services were temporarily disrupted, and cameras mounted on buildings showed visible shaking.—
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However, drinking caffeinated tea too late in the day can disrupt sleep.—
Verb
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The disjunction between the abstract composition and the notion of self-portraiture appeared perplexing in its own right; its inoperability only exacerbated the viewer’s frustration and redoubled the artist’s impish provocation.—
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But the unknown in that equation is what perplexes the Mavericks and has the team stuck for now.—
Verb
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About Modern Work Spaces Hackl says that efficient workflows are still the primary goal, but the concept has changed in a way that blurs the lines of the classic three-sided shape.—
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Their guests are capitalizing on the clout economy, where the line between influencer and entrepreneur is blurred and attention is the most valuable asset.—
Verb
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The run-in may have been awkward on-screen, but Franceschini wasn't flustered.—
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Pinnick in a series of plays can fluster his coaches for extending a play when maybe throwing the ball away might be wiser.—
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuse. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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