confuse

verb

con·​fuse kən-ˈfyüz 

confused; confusing

transitive verb

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

3

: to make embarrassed : abash

4

archaic : to bring to ruin

confusingly

kən-ˈfyü-ziŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of confuse

• bewilder
• perplex
• baffle
• puzzle
• befuddle
• embarrass

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

These [Units of electric charge] are FARADAYS, which are often confused with farads, or units of electrical capacitance (a measure of how well something holds electric charge). — Sean McGowan, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2026

In Chicago, Maya was confused, lost in an arboretum maze, until 6-year-old Anthony joyfully led her out. — Deepa Fernandes, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026

Jazz, for those who missed it, was confused as to why Yankees fans booed the hell out of him after grounding out in the bottom of the ninth. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Josh Silverman is not to be confused with Jeff Silberman, Gordon’s chief of staff and executive vice president of corporate strategy. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English confusen, back-formation from confused "frustrated, ruined," participle based on Anglo-French confus, borrowed from Latin confūsus, past participle of confundere "to pour together, blend, bring into disorder, destroy, disconcert" — more at confound

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Rhymes for confuse

• accrues
• accuse
• aircrews
• amuse
• bamboos
• breakthroughs
• canoes
• cashews
• chartreuse
• construes
• defuse
• ensues

Kids 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

-ˈfyüz(-ə)d-lē

adverb

confusingly

-ˈfyü-ziŋ-lē 

adverb