confuse

verb

con·​fuse kən-ˈfyüz How to pronounce confuse (audio)
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 adverb

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 Read the full Leo Daily Horoscope Virgo (August 23 - September 22) Trying to confuse the competition? USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024 But Booth and Herold got confused in the night and rowed in the wrong direction. Vanessa Armstrong, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024 Although the species is sometimes confused with invasive snakeheads, bowfin (also known as dogfish) are native to Wisconsin and the larger Mississippi River Basin. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 13 Mar. 2024 The root can be confused with the poisonous plant hemlock, which is fatal if ingested. Barbie Cervoni, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2024 Chick thinks that few people in the village are aware of what happened and that confusing messages from the EPA have probably fueled division and distrust in the community. Brenda Goodman, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024 Apple announced two new MacBook Air models this week, with spec upgrades across the board — and a bunch of confusing ideas about how your laptop can be great at AI. David Pierce, The Verge, 7 Mar. 2024 Feeling wronged and confused by the new restrictions, Hall slumped back into her chair. Paresh Dave, WIRED, 7 Mar. 2024 But the conversation took a turn when Kelce inexplicably confused Yoko Ono — singer and wife of the late Beatles singer John Lennon — with Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'confuse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of confuse was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near confuse

Cite this Entry

“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confuse. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

confuse

verb
con·​fuse kən-ˈfyüz How to pronounce confuse (audio)
confused; confusing
1
a
: to make mentally foggy or uncertain : perplex
the complicated problem confused us
b
: to cause to be embarrassed or upset : disconcert
2
: to make unclear : blur
stop confusing the issue
3
: to make disordered : jumble
his motives were hopelessly confused
4
: to fail to tell apart
teachers always confused the twins
confusedly
-ˈfyüz(-ə)d-lē
adverb
confusingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on confuse

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