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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 confuse Other changes, such as the introduction of a more restrictive Basic Economy fare (similar to those offered by American, Delta, and United), could be frustrating for travelers, especially those who appreciated that Southwest didn’t have confusing ticket tiers. Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 11 Mar. 2025 All of that is now confusing a large swath of the US economy, according to the NFIB’s latest survey. Bryan Mena, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025 Cue 30 minutes of singing and me and my husband being completely confused the entire time. Erin Clack, People.com, 10 Mar. 2025 The smiles on the mound Friday night are what confused the family of Dodgers right-hander Matt Sauer the most. Doug Padilla, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for confuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
Verb
  • The cat, named Ameera, looked bewildered by her family early start to the day.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Jackie lets the ladies know that Phaedra may not be rejoining the group, and while Toya seems a bit bewildered, Simone remains indifferent—further solidifying the mean girl energy that Phaedra called out.
    Shelby Stewart, Essence, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • That’s the one thing that could get complicated, at least from a hitter’s perspective.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Figuring out the best time to apply can be complicated.
    Liz Weston, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • He was detained after the agents, who were searching for another man with a deportation order, mistook him for someone else.
    Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
  • This is a classic case of mistaking accumulation for capability.
    Craig S. Smith, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Get okay with the idea that in the future, your past work will embarrass you.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
  • The Vance memes seem to contain an admission as well: that even some conservatives do not see him as essential to the current MAGA movement. Consider the fact that Democrats have long tried to embarrass Trump with memes and images of him as an infant, a Cheeto, and other forms.
    Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Doctors, hospitals and other providers don't want to disrupt their practices' workflow and payment logistics with cost discussions and paperwork, especially after services have been provided.
    Michelle Andrews, NPR, 17 Mar. 2025
  • As the World Economic Forum reports, 44% of workers' skills will be disrupted in the next four years, with cognitive skills growing in importance most rapidly.
    Caroline Castrillon, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • On the flip side, some have found peoples' infatuation with the ferocious-looking predator perplexing.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Many fans of the show are perplexed by this particular star with his cutthroat singing chops.
    Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 19 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Filters have a more dramatic effect on images than Film Sims, with options that include a miniature effect that blurs part of the scene to simulate a photograph of a diorama, a low-fi toy camera filter, high and low-key exposure looks, and others.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 12 Mar. 2025
  • From music tailored to your mood to movies created by AI, the line between human and machine creativity is blurring.
    Andrey Fadeev, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Much like a good parent is keenly aware of a young child’s mental state, when they might be flustered, and what would soothe them, having some recognition of when a friend or partner is stressed out can make tending to them more intuitive and connective.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 28 Feb. 2025
  • In East Hampton, a 1964 house with a pair of steeply angled roofs displayed a severe flair that must have flustered the neighbors in nearby cottages.
    Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 26 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuse. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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