confused; confusing
1
: to disturb in mind or purpose : throw off
The directions she gave confused us.
2
a
: to make indistinct : blur
Stop confusing the issue.
b
: to fail to differentiate from an often similar or related other
confuse money with comfort
Do not confuse the words "flaunt" and "flout."
c
: to mix indiscriminately : jumble
Their arms, legs, and bodies were confused together, till they resembled … two serpents interlaced.—
Thomas Medwin
Thomas Medwin3
: to make embarrassed : abash
4
archaic
: to bring to ruin
Synonyms
Examples of confuse in a Sentence
The general was trying to confuse the enemy.
The new evidence only confused matters further.
You must be confusing me with someone else.
Recent Examples on the Web
Evans believes a lack of planning is largely to blame for our productivity failures, and warns people not to confuse being busy with being productive.
—Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Penn State’s receivers won’t be confused for an elite group, but tight end Tyler Warren is the top player in the country at that position, and the running back duo of Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton is one of the nation’s best.
—Antonio Morales, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Critic’s Notebook For Freedoms’ billboards could surprise, comfort or confuse.
—Travis Diehl, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
The 57-year-old Canada native explained to host Josh Horowitz that the unidentified man confused her for one of the socially-conscious singers, who were canceled after lead member Natalie Maines criticized then-President George W. Bush during a 2003 concert.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for confuse 
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Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Penn State’s receivers won’t be confused for an elite group, but tight end Tyler Warren is the top player in the country at that position, and the running back duo of Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton is one of the nation’s best.
—Antonio Morales, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Critic’s Notebook For Freedoms’ billboards could surprise, comfort or confuse.
—Travis Diehl, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
The 57-year-old Canada native explained to host Josh Horowitz that the unidentified man confused her for one of the socially-conscious singers, who were canceled after lead member Natalie Maines criticized then-President George W. Bush during a 2003 concert.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for confuse
Articles Related to confuse
Dictionary Entries Near confuse
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confuse. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
confuse
verb
con·fuse
kən-ˈfyüz 
confused; confusing
1
a
: to make mentally foggy or uncertain : perplex
the complicated problem confused us
b
: to cause to be embarrassed or upset
2
: to make unclear : blur
stop confusing the issue
3
: to make disordered : jumble
the cords were all confused together
4
: to fail to tell apart
teachers always confused the twins
confusedly
adverb
-ˈfyüz(-ə)d-lē
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