confusing 1 of 2

present participle of confuse
1
2
3
as in mistaking
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
5

confusing

2 of 2

adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for confusing
Verb
  • Artificial intelligence is already disrupting numerous sectors across society.
    Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Robertson had a good sequence throwing a big hit on Gage Goncalves and disrupting his shot attempt seconds later.
    Omar White, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • James is playing the final year of his contract at $52.6 million, which is a very difficult number for teams to pay.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025
  • Our models and expertise can sniff out the broad parameters, but the precise location and timing of moisture plumes, training (quasi-stationary rain cells), and forcing mechanism can be difficult.
    Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • After a perplexing dream, Geron embarks on a quest to connect with his musically inclined son, Anthony, in hopes of creating music ice cream lovers–and the world—will love.
    DeVonne Goode, Parents, 10 July 2025
  • Riverside’s dissing of juries is even more perplexing given that California conviction rates in criminal cases top 60%.
    Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 6 July 2025
Verb
  • The young actor has a disconcerting awareness of the roiling potential of his changing body.
    Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Even without Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota’s size remains disconcerting to the Nuggets, especially when Aaron Gordon is out.
    Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Don’t come over here disturbing my peace if mahogany queens aren’t your preferred type.
    Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Crimping is the process of severing a crop at the base and laying it over to create a decomposing thatch/mulch layer for the garden without disturbing the soil.
    Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Otherwise, the 27-year-old’s immeasurable talent has been enough to compensate for the shortcomings of Red Bull’s car, which has proven troublesome since midway through last season.
    Luke Smith, New York Times, 10 July 2025
  • Work will be done to improve a troublesome railroad crossing for motorists in the center of Mt. Juliet for the second time in about four years.
    Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • Still, for many of the players who were dominant during tennis’ defining era, today’s shrunken audiences are somewhat baffling, given the athleticism on display and the dizzying velocity of the aggro-baseliner game.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 27 June 2025
  • Rejecting 2010’s Inception when Nolan was coming off his blockbuster masterpiece The Dark Knight, however, seems like a more baffling move.
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • Researchers are particularly focused on unraveling the puzzling interplay between gas content, magma pressure and lava flow dynamics.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
  • Almost two years into his ordeal, Gould learned of an initiative at the National Institutes of Health that focuses on solving the country’s most puzzling medical cases.
    Jason Liebowitz, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Confusing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confusing. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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