1
as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
the cans were lying in a confused jumble in the basement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion
she was briefly confused after her fall from the horse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in puzzled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the similar-sounding words "censure" and "censor" often confuse people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complicated
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mistook
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
as in embarrassed
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
she was confused by the shocking bluntness of his marriage proposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in disrupted
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
vandals had hopelessly confused the papers in the office files
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example 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 confused
Sarah Dahlberg, NBC news, 6 Jan. 2026
Video footage from the rescue showed a firefighter wading towards the confused animal and grabbing it before the two were pulled back to the shore via the attached ropes.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Diane Brady, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
And got confused, Rowan remembered.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confused
Adjective
The family believes Dan experienced a possible stroke or medical event that left him confused and disoriented before his disappearance.
—Verb
Customers were confused over SNAP benefits that remain in limbo amid the government shutdown, the teller explained.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for confused
Adjective
-
Adding a dust ruffle around the base of your bed can make this spot even better for keeping messy items hidden.—
-
Art Supplies Art supplies will get messy fast if those tubes and bottles leak or burst.—
Adjective
-
Snook and Lacy, who display such sharp instincts in their best work, seem to have been directed to overact; cameras freeze on their exaggeratedly bewildered or angry or devastated expressions, putting exclamation points at the end of too many scenes.—
-
Instead, a bewildered stranger answers the door.—
Verb
-
Although puzzled, Aisha answered honestly.—
-
Like his wife, Moore was puzzled when their friend didn’t show up to eat dinner.—
Verb
-
Contrary to popular opinion, getting dressed does not need to be complicated — just take it from Pamela Anderson.—
-
Pedroia’s Hall of Fame candidacy has always been complicated.—
Verb
-
Digging into their Nordic roots, Ida and Filip also built a sauna, which some confused members of the local community initially mistook for a giant bread oven.—
-
No one, except maybe kids too young to remember the 20th century, mistook Stranger Things for being original.—
Verb
-
French authorities have arrested several suspects after a frantic manhunt for the men who staged a spectacular daytime heist at the Louvre museum that gripped the world and embarrassed the government in Paris.—
-
The Revolution provided a brief scare through a 59th-minute goal from Dor Turgeman, who embarrassed a defender before curling home a spectacular effort, but Inter Miami broke the tie almost immediately after the strike that made the score 2-1.—
Verb
-
The Lakers disrupted alley-oop attempts to Castle and Luke Kornet in the opening minutes.—
-
During a three-game losing streak that began with a loss to Arkansas State, Arkansas has been turnover prone and seen its dribble-drive offense disrupted.—
Adjective
-
Paul’s chaotic yet candid nature quickly uplifted her to reality TV icon status, so much so that ABC named her their next star of The Bachelorette.—
-
Dispatch recordings from firefighters who were first on the scene at Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra’s home early Thursday reveal a chaotic and fast-moving fire that left crews scrambling to find water and to contain the spreading flames.—
Cite this Entry
“Confused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confused. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share