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Definitions

confuse

[kuhn-fyooz] / kənˈfyuz /
VERB
bewilder someone
Synonyms
STRONGEST
amaze astonish baffle befuddle bemuse complicate confound daze demoralize disconcert disorient distract embarrass fluster frustrate involve misinform mislead mortify muddle mystify obscure perplex perturb puzzle trouble unsettle upset worry
STRONG
abash addle becloud bedevil cloud clutter darken discomfit discompose discountenance faze fog fuddle nonplus rattle shame stump unhinge
WEAK
lead astray mess up render uncertain stir up throw off throw off balance
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist calm clarify clear up comfort encourage enlighten expect explain explicate facilitate help illuminate order please settle soothe support
WEAK
organize separate
VERB
mix up; involve
Synonyms
STRONGEST
confound disorganize involve muddle
STRONG
blend clutter disarrange disarray discombobulate disorder embroil encumber entangle intermingle jumble litter mingle mistake rumple tangle tousle tumble
WEAK
bedlamize discreate mess up muss up snarl up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
clear up enlighten explain order organize
STRONG
arrange clean up divide exclude neaten separate tidy uncomplicate unmix untangle untwist
WEAK
clarify

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Finally, some people confuse charitable donations with monetary gifts, a separate issue.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026

Shadows may confuse the system about a block's shape, or the robot may place pieces incorrectly, causing the structure to collapse.

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026

“Don’t confuse the end of the war with the ability to restart production and refining capacity out of the Gulf,” said Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

In Season 19 of “America’s Got Talent,” the comedian won over audiences by joking about how American movies about Africa often confuse Africans, asking, “Why do the lions have American accents?”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

“Just think—next year I’ll be a teenager too, and then we’ll really confuse you!”

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Vocabulary lists containing confuse

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