confuse
kuhn-FYOOZ
Confuse (verb) means to make someone unable to understand or think clearly. Example: “The conflicting instructions confused everyone in the meeting.”
verb
1
To make someone unable to understand or think clearly.
"The conflicting instructions confused everyone in the meeting."
"Don't confuse the new starters with too much jargon on day one."
"The complicated map only served to confuse the tourists even more."
2
To mistake one thing for another.
"People often confuse the twins because they look so alike."
"It is easy to confuse salt with sugar when the jars are unlabelled."
"Many learners confuse the words "affect" and "effect"."
3
To make someone feel embarrassed or flustered.
"His blunt question clearly confused her."
How to use confuse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo muddle someone's understanding, or to mix two things up.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
confuse someone with
confuse X for Y
easy to confuse
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like confuse.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- confuses
- Past tense
- confused
- Comparative
- more confuse
- Superlative
- most confuse
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The conflicting instructions _____ everyone in the meeting.
Etymology
A back-formation from "confused", ultimately from Latin confundere ("to pour together, mix up").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for confuse
See all rhymes for confuse →Frequently asked questions
What does “confuse” mean?
The word “confuse” means to make someone unable to understand or think clearly. In plain terms, to muddle someone's understanding, or to mix two things up.
How do you pronounce “confuse”?
“Confuse” is pronounced kuhn-FYOOZ (/kənˈfjuz/ in IPA).
How do you use “confuse” in a sentence?
Here is “confuse” used in a sentence: “The conflicting instructions confused everyone in the meeting.”
What is another word for “confuse”?
Words with a similar meaning to “confuse” include flummox, mistake, addle, baffle, vex and lose.
What is the opposite of “confuse”?
The opposite of “confuse” — its antonyms — are clarify, distinguish, enlighten, inspire and judicate.
What part of speech is “confuse”?
“Confuse” is a verb.
Where does the word “confuse” come from?
The word “confuse” comes from Latin. A back-formation from "confused", ultimately from Latin confundere ("to pour together, mix up").
Is “confuse” a common word?
“Confuse” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between "confuse" and "confound"?
Both words can mean to make someone unable to think clearly, but "confound" often implies a deeper level of astonishment or being thoroughly baffled, sometimes to the point of surprise. "Confuse" is the more everyday, general term for making someone unable to understand or think clearly.
Is it correct to say "confuse with" or "confuse for"?
The standard construction is "confuse X with Y" when mistaking one thing for another, as in "people often confuse sympathy with pity." "Confuse for" is less standard and generally avoided in careful writing.
What is the difference between "confuse" and "embarrass"?
"Confuse" can mean to make someone feel embarrassed or flustered, but its primary sense is making someone unable to think clearly, while "embarrass" specifically refers to causing discomfort or self-consciousness. The two overlap when confusion itself causes someone to feel flustered in front of others.
