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
Synonyms
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
The team wants Alex Mill to be more of a household name brand without getting too big to manage properly, or so expansive as to confuse the customer with many fashion messages.
—David Moin, WWD, 18 Nov. 2024
San Francisco sued Oakland for infringing its airport’s trademarks in April, arguing the Oakland airport’s similar new name would confuse travelers.
—Reuters, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
This is the central region of Jupiter’s interior, and not to be confused with a surface.
—Benjamin Roulston, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024
Not to be confused with dandruff, Mathieu says that a dry scalp will present itself with smaller flakes and oiliness on the skin or within the hair.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for confuse 
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David Moin, WWD, 18 Nov. 2024
San Francisco sued Oakland for infringing its airport’s trademarks in April, arguing the Oakland airport’s similar new name would confuse travelers.
—Reuters, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
This is the central region of Jupiter’s interior, and not to be confused with a surface.
—Benjamin Roulston, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024
Not to be confused with dandruff, Mathieu says that a dry scalp will present itself with smaller flakes and oiliness on the skin or within the hair.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for confuse
Articles Related to confuse
Dictionary Entries Near confuse
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confuse. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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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