1
as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness
the cans were lying in a confused jumble in the basement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion
she was briefly confused after her fall from the horse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in puzzled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the similar-sounding words "censure" and "censor" often confuse people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complicated
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mistook
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
4
as in embarrassed
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
she was confused by the shocking bluntness of his marriage proposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in disrupted
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
vandals had hopelessly confused the papers in the office files
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confused
Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 19 May 2025
Rotate the location of the feeder every few weeks to keep ants confused.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 18 May 2025
Nicholas Rice, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024
Meanwhile, the state’s agriculture department, which had been routinely testing Raw Farm milk products kept getting negative results — leaving infectious disease experts confused.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for confused
Adjective
In a related blog post, Microsoft CVP David Weston acknowledges risks of attacks from a confused deputy exposing sensitive functionality, prompt injection, tool poisoning, unwanted remote access, and others.
—Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 19 May 2025
Rotate the location of the feeder every few weeks to keep ants confused.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 18 May 2025
Verb
However, the Madea star said his science teacher then asked him about dissecting the animal, which confused a young Perry.
—Nicholas Rice, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024
Meanwhile, the state’s agriculture department, which had been routinely testing Raw Farm milk products kept getting negative results — leaving infectious disease experts confused.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for confused
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confused
Adjective
-
Felix, a neat freak, moves in with his messy best friend Oscar following his divorce, and their relationship is put to the test — and then some.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
25 May 2025
-
There, Parker stuck to her middle part, messy waves and played with pattern clashing, wearing a button-up, floral midi dress under a turquoise jacket decoarted in white polka dots.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
Because, as the bewildered Jackson says in response, Who hates guitars?—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
21 May 2025
-
Also speaking to camera, the various members of the Girard family waver between resentment and bewildered confusion.—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
15 May 2025
Verb
-
Behind the scenes there was no doubt other dreams were dashed and processes disrupted.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
-
After a season disrupted by injuries and fewer starts, the writing was on the wall.—
Julia Ranney,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The 2021 withdrawal was unacceptably chaotic and bloody, the takeover by the Taliban shameful, but that war is now over.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
26 May 2025
-
No dogs will be allowed because Matthews didn’t want dogs’ first experience at the facility to be chaotic and filled with stress.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
25 May 2025
Adjective
-
The band played everything a little slower, and the songs drifted through the theatre with a dazed elegance.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
-
The museum show did happen — though some of what’s in it is fabricated, including a few fake ads for Apple and Absolut Vodka that the band very much did not shoot — but everyone in attendance seems a little dazed and confused about it, including the band.—
Alissa Wilkinson,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Verb
-
Even the guards appeared to be disturbed.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
-
These five destinations show that sharing the shore with animals can be calm, safe and memorable for the right reasons when animals aren’t fed or disturbed.—
Emese Maczko,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Analysts at Mizuho shuffled up its top picks in a note Monday.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
6 Jan. 2025
-
Stop Scripting Development Employees need to grow into opportunities, not be shuffled into roles.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Follow the rules of the road—and stay off your phone - Stick to speed limits, obey traffic signals, and never drive distracted.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 May 2025
-
That was a possible sign of fatigue or distracted driving, some experts told CBS Austin — a problem that truckers told The Hill is endemic across an industry that pushes them to work around the clock.—
Saul Elbein,
The Hill,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confused. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
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