Definition of confidenext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word confide distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of confide are commit, consign, entrust, and relegate. While all these words mean "to assign to a person or place for a definite purpose," confide implies entrusting with great assurance or reliance.

confided complete control of my affairs to my attorney

When is commit a more appropriate choice than confide?

While in some cases nearly identical to confide, commit may express the general idea of delivering into another's charge or the special sense of transferring to a superior power or to a special place of custody.

committed the felon to prison

When could consign be used to replace confide?

While the synonyms consign and confide are close in meaning, consign suggests removing from one's control with formality or finality.

consigned the damaging notes to the fire

Where would entrust be a reasonable alternative to confide?

In some situations, the words entrust and confide are roughly equivalent. However, entrust implies committing with trust and confidence.

the president is entrusted with broad powers

When would relegate be a good substitute for confide?

The words relegate and confide are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, relegate implies a consigning to a particular class or sphere often with a suggestion of getting rid of.

relegated to an obscure position in the company

Example 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 confide Then Rocha saw him a year later, and the student confided that college just wasn’t for him. — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2026 The problem with Dolan, this person confided, was that the owner fancied himself knowledgeable about basketball. — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026 But during the March video conference, Colorado regulators confided to industry lobbyists that the tool for rooting out fraud isn’t working. — Christopher Osher, ProPublica, 15 May 2026 In video testimony last week, Toner said a starting point for the decision to oust Altman was when OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever, a respected AI scientist, reached out to confide some of his own concerns. — ABC News, 11 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for confide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confide
Verb
  • Institutions ensure that responsibility survives the individuals entrusted with it.
    — Walid Chiniara, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The board is entrusted with the educational, physical and financial well-being of the district.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Jim Woolery was a dealmaker at the white-shoe law firm Cravath before leaving to run M&A at JPMorgan.
    — Ellen DiMauro, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • If a client’s business looks the same six months after an engagement ends, or if the gains fade the moment the vendor leaves, that was delivery.
    — Vikas Verma, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The twist is, the would-be brides and grooms must hand total control of their love lives to their families.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • One day earlier, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget granted $20 million to CBP before the money was handed to the advertising agency.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Its winner, whether filmmaker or rights holder, will give the platform an exclusive license to show the film for a limited period.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Intense sound effects—such as the exceptionally long reverberation and echoes inside the Blue Demon tomb—gave a dramatic soundtrack to this intense, immersive experience.
    — Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • According to court records, the money obtained was allegedly transferred to various individuals and businesses, primarily Annas 4 Contracting, LLC, and New Life Painters, LLC.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • This is also the first congressional election cycle since George Soros transferred control of his political operation to Alex in 2023.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • In the absence of any sustained challenge to their power, elites seem to trust their capacity to continually outmaneuver the majority of the population regardless of whether or not they are actually trusted.
    — Via Haymarket Books, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Even extensive scrutiny cannot remove the need to trust the people making those decisions.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Trust stays because accountability cannot be delegated to a machine.
    — Manu Khetan, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The report also found that AI users are more willing to delegate.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Though professional society guidelines recommended against performing this biopsy on women 70 or older with early-stage cancer, other groups had reported that it was still being done.
    — Allessandra DiCorato, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The finding prompted auditors to recommend the Legislature clarify remote work policies in state law.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Confide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confide. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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