confuse

con·fuse

verb \kən-ˈfyüz\

con·fusedcon·fus·ing

Definition of CONFUSE

transitive verb

1

archaic : to bring to ruin

2

a : to make embarrassed : abash b : to disturb in mind or purpose : throw off

3

a : to make indistinct : blur <stop confusing the issue> b : to mix indiscriminately : jumble c : to fail to differentiate from an often similar or related other <confuse money with comfort>

— con·fus·ing·ly \-ˈfyü-ziŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of CONFUSE

1. The general was trying to confuse the enemy.
2. The new evidence only confused matters further.
3. You must be confusing me with someone else.

Origin of CONFUSE

back-formation from Middle English confused frustrated, ruined, from Anglo-French confus, from Latin confusus, past participle of confundere

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CONFUSE

Synonyms: addle, baffle, bamboozle, beat, befog, befuddle, bemuse, bewilder, buffalo, confound, discombobulate, disorient, flummox, fox, fuddle, get, gravel, maze, muddle, muddy, mystify, perplex, pose, puzzle, vex, blow one's mind, go to one's head

Antonyms: clarify, clear (up), illuminate

Related Words: stick, stump, weird out; abash, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle; agitate, bother, chagrin, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, stun, unhinge, unsettle, upset; beguile, cozen, deceive, delude, dupe, fool, gull, hoax, hoodwink, humbug, misguide, mislead, snow, string along, take in, trick

Near Antonyms: assure, reassure, satisfy; enlighten, inform

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with CONFUSE

abuse, accuse, amuse, Andrews, bad news, bemuse, berceuse, chanteuse, charmeuse, chartreuse, coiffeuse, contuse, danseuse, defuse, diffuse, diseuse, disuse, effuse, enthuse, excuse, ill-use, incuse, infuse, masseuse, misuse, perfuse, peruse, recluse, recuse, refuse, reuse, short fuse, suffuse, Toulouse, transfuse, vendeuse