confused
kuhn-FYOOZD
Confused (adj) means Unable to think clearly or understand what is happening. Example: “The elderly man looked confused and couldn't remember his address.”
adj
1
Unable to think clearly or understand what is happening.
"The elderly man looked confused and couldn't remember his address."
"I was so confused by the road signs that I took the wrong turn."
"The confused tourist asked three different people for directions."
2
Disorganised, jumbled, or lacking clear structure.
"The report was a confused mess of half-finished points."
"The plot of the film was confused, and nobody could follow the story."
"He gave a confused set of instructions that made the job harder."
3
Embarrassed or flustered.
"She gave a confused little laugh and changed the subject."
"She was too confused to reply when the whole crowd applauded her."
"He blushed and looked confused when everyone began to sing."
How to use confused
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot able to make sense of something, or (of things) badly muddled.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a confused look
confused about
utterly confused
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more confused
- Superlative
- most confused
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The elderly man looked _____ and couldn't remember his address.
Etymology
It originally came from Middle English confused (“frustrated, ruined”), formed from Anglo-Norman confus and the Middle English past-participial suffix -ed, which trace back to Latin cōnfūsus, the past participle of cōnfundō. It is now treated as confuse (itself a back-formation) plus -ed.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for confused
See all rhymes for confused →Frequently asked questions
What does “confused” mean?
The word “confused” means unable to think clearly or understand what is happening. In plain terms, not able to make sense of something, or (of things) badly muddled.
How do you pronounce “confused”?
“Confused” is pronounced kuhn-FYOOZD (/kənˈfjuːzd/ in IPA).
How do you use “confused” in a sentence?
Here is “confused” used in a sentence: “The elderly man looked confused and couldn't remember his address.”
What is another word for “confused”?
Words with a similar meaning to “confused” include addle-pated, addled, addlepated, at a loss, at a loss for words and at sea.
What part of speech is “confused”?
“Confused” is an adjective.
Is “confused” a common word?
“Confused” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “confused” have?
“Confused” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: unable to think clearly or understand what is happening.
What is the difference between confused and confusing?
Confused describes the person who cannot think clearly or make sense of something — it is how you feel. Confusing describes the thing that causes that feeling. Unclear instructions are confusing, and they leave you confused. Remember that people are confused, while situations, texts, and explanations are confusing.
What is the opposite of confused?
The opposites are words like clear-headed, certain, and sure. Where a confused person cannot follow what is happening, someone clear understands the situation and knows what to do. 'Oriented' is used in a medical sense for a patient who is alert and aware of time, place, and identity.
What is an example of feeling confused?
Arriving in an unfamiliar city and being unable to tell which direction to walk leaves you confused. So does reading a form whose questions seem to contradict each other, or waking suddenly and not knowing where you are. In each case the mind cannot yet make clear sense of the situation.
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