adj

confounded

kuhn-FOWN-dihd

Confounded (adj) means Completely puzzled or astonished. Example: “He stood there looking utterly confounded by the question.”

adj

Completely puzzled or astonished.

"He stood there looking utterly confounded by the question."

Old-fashioned, mild intensifier used to show annoyance, similar to "darn" or "blasted".

""Where's my confounded phone gone now?" he muttered."

How to use confounded

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBaffled — or, in old-fashioned speech, a polite swear word meaning "annoying".

When to use it

The "darn/blasted" sense sounds dated or deliberately old-fashioned in modern English.

Word forms

more confounded comparative, most confounded superlative

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He stood there looking utterly _____ by the question.

Rhymes for confounded

funded pounded founded wounded rounded bounded grounded astounded unfounded compounded dumbfounded

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Frequently asked questions

What does “confounded” mean?

The word “confounded” means completely puzzled or astonished. In plain terms, baffled — or, in old-fashioned speech, a polite swear word meaning "annoying".

How do you pronounce “confounded”?

“Confounded” is pronounced kuhn-FOWN-dihd (/kənˈfaʊndɪd/ in IPA).

How do you use “confounded” in a sentence?

Here is “confounded” used in a sentence: “He stood there looking utterly confounded by the question.”

What part of speech is “confounded”?

“Confounded” is an adjective.

How many meanings does “confounded” have?

“Confounded” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: completely puzzled or astonished.