1
as in difficult
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in perplexing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in baffling
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 complicating
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mistaking
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 embarrassing
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
she was confused by the shocking bluntness of his marriage proposal
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in disrupting
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
vandals had hopelessly confused the papers in the office files
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confusing
Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
Choose decisive steps over a confusing kerfuffle!
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
Burning Man organizers have just released information on the festival’s intensely confusing and complicated ticketing program.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
This is par for the course, because conversations are confusing, even depressing.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 8 Jan. 2026
Delicious and pungent, there's no denying that the world of cheese can be a confusing (and rewarding) place.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2026
Bella Hadid wore her darkest hair in months with a confusing part and the tiniest blood-red bra.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026
That might sound confusing, said Alyssa Moran, a nutrition policy researcher and epidemiologist at the University of Pennsylvania who co-authored the piece with Neha Khandpur and Christina Roberto.
—Sarah Todd, STAT, 7 Jan. 2026
The guidelines also soften recommendations on alcohol and laud the benefits of red meat, dairy, and butter, worrying some doctors and nutritionists who say such guidance could be confusing and even harmful.
—Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 7 Jan. 2026
Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 10 Jan. 2026
Among the factors hindering higher youth participation, CIRCLE research shows, include confusing registration deadlines and requirements, a lack of youth outreach and a dearth of regular curriculum that teaches young people about elections and voting in school.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
On Tuesday morning, the Oscar winner ended her Today interview with host Craig Melvin in giggles after making a simple mistake, confusing one TV network for another.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
Tolls for the lanes will depend on a complex – if not confusing – series of factors set to change over time.
—Mark Price
january 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 Jan. 2026
But those examples are nothing compared to confusing chives and green onions, which on top of looking rather similar seem to serve the same purpose in many dishes.
—Aly Walansky, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2026
The answer is likely no as Venus triggers confusing Neptune.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
Experts have questioned Brown's actions in the wake of the shooting, confusing press conferences, and the fact that no cameras inside Barus and Holley are believed to have recorded Neves-Valente, based on what authorities said at press briefings.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 20 Dec. 2025
But plenty of people simply seeking to gather a delicious meal from nature have suffered the painful or deadly consequences of confusing a toxic variety of fungus or plant for one that is tasty and nutritious.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Adjective
While airline miles are easier to earn than ever, using them well—and maximizing their value—can often feel confusing.
—Verb
Canales-Pelaez said that local departments may be confusing administrative warrants with criminal ones, or overcomplying to avoid backlash from the state Legislature.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for confusing
Adjective
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Jens generally chooses his words carefully, and is, what’s more, particularly reticent just after finishing a long and difficult winter delivery trip; what’s a person supposed to do with words in a blizzard anyway, up on a stormy heath and all directions lost?—
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In his first start in the wake of Beau Pribula’s significant injury, Zollers walked into a difficult situation, and his stat line reflected it.—
Adjective
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The movie is hilarious, fun, disturbing, perplexing, exuberant, exhausting.—
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The canon can already be described as a bewildering artistic menagerie, including a perplexing assessment of misandrism, body horror by Brian Yuzna, killer toys from the ’90s, and more.—
Verb
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The pilot of a private jet reportedly made an eerie discovery while flying thousands of feet over Rhode Island, marking the latest in unexplained encounters baffling both experts and civilians alike.—
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From financial wipeouts to baffling misreads of beloved source material, some of Hollywood’s most notorious flops began as video games.—
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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Partnerships between public and private entities that were forged during the early days continue to support the event, but as with any public gathering, challenges from the outside were complicating their plans.—
Verb
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Buffett has also repeatedly cautioned shareholders against mistaking volatility for failure.—
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The creative LaMelo Ball, along with Kon Knueppel, Collin Sexton and Tre Mann are all gifted scorers and offensive forces, but nobody is mistaking them for members of the 2004 Pistons.—
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.—
-
An ever-growing pile of embarrassing legislative audits consistently reveals the persistent challenge the governor has with recruiting and retaining leaders with executive acumen.—
Verb
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Airlines canceled hundreds of flights, disrupting plans for thousands of travelers during a busy holiday weekend and in a region that experts say is among the most popular for travelers this time of year.—
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One woman, Trish, told CBS News the fear was already disrupting daily life amid an influx of 2,000 federal law enforcement members in the Twin Cities metro area.—
Adjective
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There’s nothing more troublesome than a government that finds no problem too small to care about — and governments have a terrible track record for solving large ones.—
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However, replacing 2/3 of your outfield in one offseason can be troublesome at times.—
Cite this Entry
“Confusing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confusing. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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