Synonyms for confuse

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verb

puzzle, perplex, bewilder, confound, nonplus, disconcert, abash, fluster, discompose, flurry, dumbfound, upset, befuddle, baffle, mislead, misinform, embarrass, daze, astonish, disarrange, disorder, jumble, mix up, garble, scramble, blend, mix, mingle, cloud, becloud, fog, stir up, agitate, bedevil, worry, trouble, snarl, unsettle, disorient, muddle, clutter, darken, addle, discomfit, fuddle, complicate, involve, rattle, unhinge, derange, frustrate, perturb, dismay, faze, distract, entangle, encumber, befog, obscure, obfuscate, mystify, lead astray, addle the wits, embroil, render uncertain, make a hash of*, make a mess of*, throw off*, throw off the scent*, foul up*, ball up*, cross up*, put at a loss*, stump*, make one's head swim*, flummox*, throw*, discombobulate*; see also disturb 2, hide 1, tangle.

Antonyms clear*, clarify, untangle.

confuse implies a mixing up mentally to a greater or lesser degree; confound implies such confusion as completely frustrates or greatly astonishes one; puzzle implies that one has great difficulty in understanding or solving something, as a situation or problem, because of its intricacy or baffling quality; perplex, in addition, implies uncertainty or even worry as to what to think, say, or do; bewilder implies such utter confusion that the mind is staggered beyond the ability to think clearly; nonplus implies such perplexity or confusion that one is utterly incapable of speaking, acting, or thinking further; dumbfound specifically implies as its effect a nonplused or confounded state in which one is momentarily struck speechless

See confuse in Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus II

verb

To cause to be unclear in mind or intent:
addle, befuddle, bewilder, confound, discombobulate, dizzy, fuddle, jumble, mix up, muddle, mystify, perplex, puzzle. (Informal) throw. Idiom: make one's head reel (or swim) (or whirl). See clear, feelings
To cause (a person) to be self-consciously distressed:
abash, chagrin, confound, discomfit, discomfort, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, mortify. Idioms: put on the spot, throw for a loop. See pain
To take (one thing) mistakenly for another:
confound, mistake, mix up. See correct
To put into total disorder:
ball up, disorder, jumble, mess up, muddle, scramble, snarl². (Slang) snafu. Idiom: play havoc with. See order

See confuse in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Synonyms

confuse addle befuddle discombobulate fuddle muddle throw

These verbs mean to cause to be unclear in mind or intent: heavy traffic that confused the driver; problems that addle my brain; a question that befuddled even the professor; was discombobulated by all of the possibilities; a complex plot line that fuddled my comprehension; a student who was muddled by endless facts and figures; behavior that really threw me.

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