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
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
Amazon $650 Samsung $650 Best Buy Not to be confused with the Galaxy S24 series, this midrange smartphone from late 2024 has some elements of the flagship phone, but makes some sacrifices to get the price down.
—Simon Hill, Wired News, 11 July 2025
O’Brien says his critics might be confused because of the novelty of his approach.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 10 July 2025
Currently, the site has a wall with three holes, which has confused residents.
—Kamal Morgan
july 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2025
The decision was met by swift condemnation and a legal challenge from San Francisco International Airport officials and its legal team which argued the new name would confuse travelers and was a copyright infringement.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
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Simon Hill, Wired News, 11 July 2025
O’Brien says his critics might be confused because of the novelty of his approach.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 10 July 2025
Currently, the site has a wall with three holes, which has confused residents.
—Kamal Morgan
july 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2025
The decision was met by swift condemnation and a legal challenge from San Francisco International Airport officials and its legal team which argued the new name would confuse travelers and was a copyright infringement.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confuse. Accessed 18 Jul. 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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