CONFOUND Synonyms: 156 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'confound' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of confound are bewilder , distract , dumbfound , nonplus , perplex , and puzzle . While all these words mean "to baffle and disturb mentally," confound implies temporary mental paralysis caused by astonishment or profound abasement. // the tragic news confounded us all

Q: When might 'bewilder' be a better fit than 'confound'?

In some situations, the words bewilder and confound are roughly equivalent. However, bewilder stresses a confusion of mind that hampers clear and decisive thinking. // a bewildering number of possibilities

Q: Where would 'distract' be a reasonable alternative to 'confound'?

While the synonyms distract and confound are close in meaning, distract implies agitation or uncertainty induced by conflicting preoccupations or interests. // distracted by personal problems

Q: When can 'dumbfound' be used instead of 'confound'?

The words dumbfound and confound are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dumbfound suggests intense but momentary confounding; often the idea of astonishment is so stressed that it becomes a near synonym of astound . // was at first too dumbfounded to reply

Q: When could 'nonplus' be used to replace 'confound'?

The synonyms nonplus and confound are sometimes interchangeable, but nonplus implies a bafflement that makes orderly planning or deciding impossible. // the remark left us utterly nonplussed

Q: In what contexts can 'perplex' take the place of 'confound'?

The meanings of perplex and confound largely overlap; however, perplex adds a suggestion of worry and uncertainty especially about making a necessary decision. // a behavior that perplexed her friends

Q: When would 'puzzle' be a good substitute for 'confound'?

The words puzzle and confound can be used in similar contexts, but puzzle implies existence of a problem difficult to solve. // the persistent fever puzzled the doctor

confound

verb

kən-ˈfau̇nd

Definition of confound next

as in to confuse

to throw into a state of mental uncertainty we were confounded by the player's remote control, which wasn't at all user-friendly

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to embarrass

to throw into a state of self-conscious distress his renewed popularity has confounded the critics who said his singing career was dead

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as in to conflate

to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related I think you've confounded astrology with astronomy

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as in to refute

to prove to be false new discoveries that confound much of what archaeologists thought they knew about the Mayan civilization

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb confound differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of confound are bewilder, distract, dumbfound, nonplus, perplex, and puzzle. While all these words mean "to baffle and disturb mentally," confound implies temporary mental paralysis caused by astonishment or profound abasement.

the tragic news confounded us all

When might bewilder be a better fit than confound?

In some situations, the words bewilder and confound are roughly equivalent. However, bewilder stresses a confusion of mind that hampers clear and decisive thinking.

a bewildering number of possibilities

Where would distract be a reasonable alternative to confound?

While the synonyms distract and confound are close in meaning, distract implies agitation or uncertainty induced by conflicting preoccupations or interests.

distracted by personal problems

When can dumbfound be used instead of confound?

The words dumbfound and confound are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dumbfound suggests intense but momentary confounding; often the idea of astonishment is so stressed that it becomes a near synonym of astound.

was at first too dumbfounded to reply

When could nonplus be used to replace confound?

The synonyms nonplus and confound are sometimes interchangeable, but nonplus implies a bafflement that makes orderly planning or deciding impossible.

the remark left us utterly nonplussed

In what contexts can perplex take the place of confound?

The meanings of perplex and confound largely overlap; however, perplex adds a suggestion of worry and uncertainty especially about making a necessary decision.

a behavior that perplexed her friends

When would puzzle be a good substitute for confound?

The words puzzle and confound can be used in similar contexts, but puzzle implies existence of a problem difficult to solve.

the persistent fever puzzled the doctor

Examples Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of confound Below are some answers to some open questions from my Feb. 16, 2021, column: Proposition 19 creates confounding questions, gotcha rules. —

Jeff Lazerson, Orange County Register, 25 Oct. 2024 Like Disco Elysium, there is a peculiarity to Phoenix Springs whose world is inspired by our own, features many of the same objects and similar kinds of locations, yet diverges in enough unsettling ways to feel deeply confounding. —

Lewis Gordon, The Verge, 7 Oct. 2024 Five hurricanes struck the US this year despite the season taking a big break, and confounding experts, during what should have been the busiest part of the year. —

Mary Gilbert, CNN, 1 Nov. 2024 Lately, filmmaker Robert Zemeckis has been a somewhat confounding figure. —

Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for confound

Recent Examples of Synonyms for confound

Verb

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