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Confuse synonyms
kən-fyo͝oz'
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puzzle
To clarify or solve (something confusing) by reasoning or study:
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  1. To clarify or solve (something confusing) by reasoning or study:
  2. To baffle or confuse mentally by presenting or being a difficult problem or matter.
  3. To ponder over a problem in an effort to solve or understand it.
perplex
To make confusedly intricate; complicate:
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  1. To make confusedly intricate; complicate:
  2. To confuse or trouble with uncertainty or doubt.
daze
To stupefy, stun, or bewilder, as by a shock or blow
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  1. To stupefy, stun, or bewilder, as by a shock or blow
  2. To stun or bewilder, as with a heavy blow or shock; stupefy:
  3. To dazzle, as with strong light.
jumble
To muddle; confuse:
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  1. To muddle; confuse:
  2. To be mixed in a confused way:
  3. To mix in a confused way; throw together carelessly:
disconcert
To upset the composure of; embarrass; confuse
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  1. To upset the composure of; embarrass; confuse
  2. To cause to lose composure; embarrass or confuse:
  3. To frustrate (plans, for example) by throwing into disorder; disarrange.
flurry
To confuse; agitate
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  1. To confuse; agitate
  2. To move in a quick, flustered way
  3. To move or come down in a flurry.
jumble
To be mixed in a confused way:
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  1. To be mixed in a confused way:
  2. To mix in a confused way; throw together carelessly:
  3. To mix in a confused, disorderly heap
mix-up
(Intransitive, idiomatic) Combine thoroughly.
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  1. (Intransitive, idiomatic) Combine thoroughly.
  2. (Idiomatic) To prepare something from ingredients that are mixed.
  3. (Intransitive, usually passive, with with, often with be or get) To become involved with, especially socially or romantically.
garble
(--- Rare) To select the best parts of
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  1. (--- Rare) To select the best parts of
  2. (--- Obs.) To sort by sifting
  3. To confuse or mix up (a quotation, story, message, etc.) unintentionally, as through inaccurate copying or poor radio transmission
blend
To create a harmonious effect or result:
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  1. To create a harmonious effect or result:
  2. To go well together; harmonize
  3. To be unobtrusive or harmonious by resembling the surroundings or behaving like others in a group. Often used with in:
mix
To join; combine
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  1. To join; combine
  2. To create or form by combining ingredients:
  3. To associate socially or get along with others:
cloud
To become gloomy or troubled
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  1. To become gloomy or troubled
  2. To cover or obscure with clouds:
  3. To cause to appear sorrowful, troubled, or angry:
fog
To cause to be obscured; cloud.
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  1. To cause to be obscured; cloud.
  2. To make vague, hazy, or confused:
  3. To be or become blurred, dimmed, or obscured
worry
To manage to get (along or through) in the face of trials and difficulties
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  1. To manage to get (along or through) in the face of trials and difficulties
  2. To cause to feel anxious, distressed, or troubled.
  3. To touch or handle something nervously or persistently:
darken
To become dark or darker.
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  1. To become dark or darker.
  2. To render vague or uncertain; obscure:
  3. To give a darker hue to.
fuddle
To make drunk; intoxicate.
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  1. To make drunk; intoxicate.
  2. To put into a state of confusion.
  3. (Rare) To drink heavily; tipple
throw
To cause to fall on or over something; cast:
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  1. To cause to fall on or over something; cast:
  2. (Informal) To lose or give up (a contest, for example) purposely.
  3. To cause (one's voice) to seem to come from a source other than oneself.
discombobulate
(Humorous) To throw into a state of confusion; to befuddle or perplex.
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  1. (Humorous) To throw into a state of confusion; to befuddle or perplex.
  2. (Informal) To upset the composure of; disconcert
dizzy
To make dizzy, to bewilder.
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  1. To make dizzy, to bewilder.
  2. To confuse or bewilder.
  3. To cause to have a whirling sensation.
mix-up
(Intransitive, idiomatic) Combine thoroughly.
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  1. (Intransitive, idiomatic) Combine thoroughly.
  2. (Idiomatic) To prepare something from ingredients that are mixed.
  3. (Intransitive, usually passive, with with, often with be or get) To become involved with, especially socially or romantically.
puzzle
To baffle or confuse mentally by presenting or being a difficult problem or matter.
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  1. To baffle or confuse mentally by presenting or being a difficult problem or matter.
  2. To ponder over a problem in an effort to solve or understand it.
  3. To clarify or solve (something confusing) by reasoning or study:
throw
To propel or discharge into the air by any means:
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  1. To propel or discharge into the air by any means:
  2. To form on a potter's wheel:
  3. To put on or off hastily or carelessly:
bewilder
To confuse, puzzle or befuddle someone, especially with many different things.
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  1. To confuse, puzzle or befuddle someone, especially with many different things.
  2. To confuse hopelessly, as by something complicated or involved; befuddle; puzzle
  3. (Archaic) To cause to be lost, as in a wilderness
confound
Used in mild curses:
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  1. Used in mild curses:
  2. To make (something bad) worse:
  3. To cause to become confused or perplexed.
nonplus
To put in a nonplus; bewilder
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  1. To put in a nonplus; bewilder
  2. (Usage Problem) To cause to feel indifferent or bored.
  3. To put at a loss as to what to think, say, or do; bewilder.
abash
To make embarrassed and ill at ease; make self-conscious; disconcert
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  1. To make embarrassed and ill at ease; make self-conscious; disconcert
fluster
(Intransitive) To be in a heat or bustle; to be agitated and confused.
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  1. (Intransitive) To be in a heat or bustle; to be agitated and confused.
  2. To make or become nervous or upset.
  3. (By extension) To confuse, befuddle, throw into panic by making overwrought with confusion.
discompose
To disturb the composure or calm of; perturb.
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  1. To disturb the composure or calm of; perturb.
  2. (Now Rare) To disturb the order of
  3. To put into a state of disorder.
dumbfound
To make speechless by shocking; amaze; astonish
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  1. To make speechless by shocking; amaze; astonish
  2. To fill with astonishment and perplexity; confound.
  3. To confuse and bewilder; to leave speechless.
upset
To become overturned or upset
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  1. To become overturned or upset
  2. To cause to overturn; knock or tip over:
  3. To cause (the stomach) to feel ill.
befuddle
To fuddle or confuse (the mind, a person, etc.)
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  1. To fuddle or confuse (the mind, a person, etc.)
  2. To stupefy someone, especially with alcohol
  3. To cause (someone) to be unable to think clearly; confuse:
baffle
To interfere with; hinder; impede
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  1. To interfere with; hinder; impede
  2. To confuse or perplex, especially so as to frustrate or prevent from taking action:
  3. To check the interference of (low-frequency sound waves) in a radio, phonograph, etc. by the use of a baffle
mislead
To lead into error (of judgment); deceive or delude
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  1. To lead into error (of judgment); deceive or delude
  2. To lead in the wrong direction.
  3. To give a wrong impression or lead toward a wrong conclusion, especially by intentionally deceiving.
misinform
To supply with false or misleading information
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  1. To supply with false or misleading information
  2. To give or deliver false, fake, or misleading information.
embarrass
To hinder with obstacles or difficulties; impede:
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  1. To hinder with obstacles or difficulties; impede:
  2. To cause difficulties to; hinder; impede
  3. To cause to feel self-conscious or ill at ease; disconcert:
astonish
To fill with sudden wonder or great surprise; amaze
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  1. To fill with sudden wonder or great surprise; amaze
  2. To fill with sudden wonder or amazement.
disarrange
To undo the order or arrangement of; make less neat; disorder
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  1. To undo the order or arrangement of; make less neat; disorder
  2. To upset the proper arrangement or order of.
  3. To undo the arrangement of; to disorder; to derange.
disorder
To disturb the normal physical or mental health of; derange.
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  1. To disturb the normal physical or mental health of; derange.
  2. To throw into confusion or disarray.
  3. To throw into disorder; disarrange
scramble
To cause (aircraft) to take off as fast as possible, as to intercept enemy aircraft.
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  1. To cause (aircraft) to take off as fast as possible, as to intercept enemy aircraft.
  2. To run forward with the ball when unable to complete an intended pass play. Used of a quarterback.
  3. To order or get (military aircraft) into the air quickly
mingle
To mix or bring together in combination:
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  1. To mix or bring together in combination:
  2. To be or become mixed, blended, etc.
  3. To join, unite, associate, or take part with others; specif., to interact with others at a party or other social gathering
becloud
To confuse; muddle
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  1. To confuse; muddle
  2. (Usually passive) cover or surround with clouds
  3. Cause to become obscure or muddled
stir-up
Mix ingredients.
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  1. Mix ingredients.
  2. Arouse or excite passion or action.
agitate
To cause to move with violence or sudden force.
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  1. To cause to move with violence or sudden force.
  2. To stir up interest and support through speeches and writing so as to produce changes
  3. To arouse interest in (a cause, for example) by use of the written or spoken word; discuss or debate.
bedevil
To spoil; ruin.
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  1. To spoil; ruin.
  2. To confuse completely; muddle
  3. To worry, annoy, or frustrate.
trouble
To cause to have emotional or mental problems that interfere with social functioning:
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  1. To cause to have emotional or mental problems that interfere with social functioning:
  2. To pester, annoy, tease, bother, etc.
  3. To cause mental agitation to; worry; harass; perturb; vex
snarl
To speak harshly and sharply, as in anger, impatience, etc.
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  1. To speak harshly and sharply, as in anger, impatience, etc.
  2. To become tangled or confused.
  3. To utter or give vent to with a snarl
unsettle
To become unsettled
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  1. To become unsettled
  2. To change from a settled condition; disrupt:
  3. To bring into disorder or disarray
disorient
To confuse or befuddle.
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  1. To confuse or befuddle.
  2. To cause to lose orientation or direction.
  3. To cause (a person, for example) to experience disorientation.
muddle
To mix or stir (a drink, etc.)
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  1. To mix or stir (a drink, etc.)
  2. To mix (a drink or the ingredients of a drink), especially with a muddler.
  3. To act or think in a confused way
clutter
To make disorderly or hard to use by filling or covering with objects:
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  1. To make disorderly or hard to use by filling or covering with objects:
  2. To put into disorder; jumble
  3. To run or move with bustle and confusion.
addle
(Provincial, Northern England) To earn, earn by labor; earn money or one's living. — Forby.
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  1. (Provincial, Northern England) To earn, earn by labor; earn money or one's living. — Forby.
  2. To become confused.
  3. To cause (someone) to think unclearly; confuse:
discomfit
(Archaic) To defeat in battle; vanquish.
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  1. (Archaic) To defeat in battle; vanquish.
  2. To make uneasy or perplexed; disconcert.
  3. To frustrate the plans or expectations of
complicate
To make or become intricate, difficult, or involved
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  1. To make or become intricate, difficult, or involved
  2. To twist or become twisted together.
involve
To occupy or engage the interest of:
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  1. To occupy or engage the interest of:
  2. To engage (oneself) in a love affair:
  3. To entangle in trouble, difficulty, danger, etc.; implicate
rattle
To secure ratlines to (shrouds).
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  1. To secure ratlines to (shrouds).
  2. To provide with ratlines
unhinge
To remove the hinges from.
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  1. To remove the hinges from.
  2. To remove (a door, for example) from the hinges.
  3. To throw (the mind, a person, etc.) into confusion; unbalance or upset
derange
To upset the arrangement, order, or operation of; unsettle; disorder
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  1. To upset the arrangement, order, or operation of; unsettle; disorder
  2. To cause disorder in something, to distort it from its ideal state
  3. To cause someone to go insane (usually used in the passive, see deranged)
frustrate
To cause to have no effect; bring to nothing; counteract; nullify
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  1. To cause to have no effect; bring to nothing; counteract; nullify
  2. To cause (someone) to feel the impatience, impotence, annoyance, anger, etc. commonly felt when desires or needs are not satisfied
  3. To cause feelings of discouragement, annoyance, or lack of fulfillment in:
perturb
To cause (a system) to become altered or imbalanced from a normal state:
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  1. To cause (a system) to become altered or imbalanced from a normal state:
  2. (--- Physics & Astronomy) To cause perturbation in (the orbit of a celestial body, for example) by gravitational interaction.
  3. To cause to be alarmed, agitated, or upset; disturb or trouble greatly
dismay
To make apprehensive or discouraged, as by a problem or troublesome prospect
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  1. To make apprehensive or discouraged, as by a problem or troublesome prospect
  2. To upset or distress:
  3. To cause to lose enthusiasm or resolution; disillusion or discourage:
faze
To disrupt the composure of; disconcert.
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  1. To disrupt the composure of; disconcert.
  2. To disturb; disconcert
distract
To attract (the attention) away from its original focus; divert.
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  1. To attract (the attention) away from its original focus; divert.
  2. To cause (someone) to have difficulty paying attention to something:
  3. To cause to feel worried or uneasy; unsettle:
entangle
To involve in or as in a tangle; catch, as in a net, vine, etc., so that escape is difficult; ensnare
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  1. To involve in or as in a tangle; catch, as in a net, vine, etc., so that escape is difficult; ensnare
  2. To involve in difficulties or embarrassments; to embarrass, puzzle, or distract by adverse or perplexing circumstances, interests, demands, etc.; to hamper; to bewilder.
  3. To involve in a complicated situation or in circumstances from which it is difficult to disengage:
encumber
To hold back the motion or action of, as with a burden; hinder; hamper
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  1. To hold back the motion or action of, as with a burden; hinder; hamper
  2. To restrict or block something with a hindrance or impediment
  3. To add a legal claim or other obligation
befog
To cover or obscure with or as if with fog.
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  1. To cover or obscure with or as if with fog.
  2. To confuse; mystify.
  3. To cause confusion in; muddle.
obscure
To diminish the stature of; overshadow or detract from:
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  1. To diminish the stature of; overshadow or detract from:
  2. To make difficult to discern mentally or understand:
  3. (Linguistics) To reduce (a vowel) to the neutral sound represented by schwa (ə).
obfuscate
To render indistinct or dim; darken:
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  1. To render indistinct or dim; darken:
  2. To make so confused or opaque as to be difficult to perceive or understand:
  3. To muddle; confuse; bewilder
mystify
To bewilder deliberately; play on the credulity of; hoax
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  1. To bewilder deliberately; play on the credulity of; hoax
  2. To involve in mystery or obscurity; make obscure or hard to understand
  3. To confuse or bewilder.
lead-astray
To misguide or misdirect.
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  1. To misguide or misdirect.
  2. To cause (someone) to believe an untruth.
embroil
To draw into a situation; to cause to be involved.
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  1. To draw into a situation; to cause to be involved.
  2. To throw into confusion or disorder; entangle.
  3. To draw into a conflict or fight; involve in trouble
make-a-hash-of
To do badly, particularly to make a mess while doing.
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  1. To do badly, particularly to make a mess while doing.
stump
To cause to be at a loss; baffle:
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  1. To cause to be at a loss; baffle:
  2. (Cricket) To put (a batsman) out by striking a bail from the wicket with the ball while the batsman is out of his or her ground
  3. To go about making political speeches.
flummox
(Slang, former) To confuse; perplex
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  1. (Slang, former) To confuse; perplex
addle
(Provincial, Northern England) To earn, earn by labor; earn money or one's living. — Forby.
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  1. (Provincial, Northern England) To earn, earn by labor; earn money or one's living. — Forby.
  2. To become rotten, as an egg.
  3. To cause (someone) to think unclearly; confuse:
befuddle
To perplex or confuse (someone)
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  1. To perplex or confuse (someone)
  2. To stupefy someone, especially with alcohol
  3. To cause (someone) to be unable to think clearly; confuse:
bewilder
To confuse or befuddle, especially by being complicated or varied.
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  1. To confuse or befuddle, especially by being complicated or varied.
  2. To confuse, puzzle or befuddle someone, especially with many different things.
  3. To confuse hopelessly, as by something complicated or involved; befuddle; puzzle
confound
To make (something bad) worse:
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  1. To make (something bad) worse:
  2. To fail to distinguish; mix up:
  3. To cause to become confused or perplexed.
discombobulate
(Informal) To upset the composure of; disconcert
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  1. (Informal) To upset the composure of; disconcert
  2. (Humorous) To throw into a state of confusion; to befuddle or perplex.
fuddle
To make drunk; intoxicate.
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  1. To make drunk; intoxicate.
  2. (Rare) To drink heavily; tipple
  3. To put into a state of confusion.
muddle
To mix (a drink or the ingredients of a drink), especially with a muddler.
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  1. To mix (a drink or the ingredients of a drink), especially with a muddler.
  2. To put into a state of confusion; confuse:
  3. To act or think in a confused way
mystify
To confuse or bewilder.
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  1. To confuse or bewilder.
  2. To bewilder deliberately; play on the credulity of; hoax
  3. To puzzle or perplex
perplex
To make (a person) uncertain, doubtful, or hesitant; confuse; puzzle
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  1. To make (a person) uncertain, doubtful, or hesitant; confuse; puzzle
  2. To confuse or trouble with uncertainty or doubt.
abash
To make embarrassed and ill at ease; make self-conscious; disconcert
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  1. To make embarrassed and ill at ease; make self-conscious; disconcert
chagrin
To cause to feel chagrin; embarrass or distress
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  1. To cause to feel chagrin; embarrass or distress
confound
To make (something bad) worse:
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  1. To make (something bad) worse:
  2. Used in mild curses:
  3. To cause to become confused or perplexed.
discomfit
(Archaic) To defeat in battle; vanquish.
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  1. (Archaic) To defeat in battle; vanquish.
  2. To frustrate the plans or expectations of
  3. To make uneasy or perplexed; disconcert.
discomfort
To make uncomfortable; distress.
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  1. To make uncomfortable; distress.
  2. To cause discomfort to; distress
disconcert
To frustrate (plans, for example) by throwing into disorder; disarrange.
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  1. To frustrate (plans, for example) by throwing into disorder; disarrange.
  2. To upset the composure of; embarrass; confuse
  3. To cause to lose composure; embarrass or confuse:
discountenance
To put out of countenance; disconcert.
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  1. To put out of countenance; disconcert.
  2. To abash, embarrass or disconcert.
  3. To refuse approval or support to; discourage
embarrass
To become flustered, self-conscious, etc.
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  1. To become flustered, self-conscious, etc.
  2. To cause to feel self-conscious, confused, and ill at ease; disconcert; fluster
  3. To cause difficulties to; hinder; impede
faze
To disturb; disconcert
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  1. To disturb; disconcert
  2. To disrupt the composure of; disconcert.
mortify
To undergo mortification; become gangrenous.
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  1. To undergo mortification; become gangrenous.
  2. To cause to feel shame, humiliation, chagrin, etc.; injure the pride or self-respect of
  3. To cause to experience shame, humiliation, or wounded pride.
confound
To fail to distinguish; mix up:
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  1. To fail to distinguish; mix up:
  2. To mix up or lump together indiscriminately; confuse
  3. To frustrate or thwart:
mistake
(Intransitive) To commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong.
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  1. (Intransitive) To commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong.
  2. To understand or perceive wrongly; interpret or judge incorrectly
  3. To understand wrongly, taking one thing for another, or someone for someone else.
mix-up
(Idiomatic) To prepare something from ingredients that are mixed.
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  1. (Idiomatic) To prepare something from ingredients that are mixed.
  2. (Intransitive, idiomatic) Combine thoroughly.
  3. (Intransitive, usually passive, with with, often with be or get) To become involved with, especially socially or romantically.
disorder
To throw into confusion or disarray.
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  1. To throw into confusion or disarray.
  2. To disturb the normal physical or mental health of; derange.
  3. To throw into disorder; disarrange
jumble
To mix in a confused, disorderly heap
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  1. To mix in a confused, disorderly heap
  2. To confuse mentally
  3. To mix in a confused way; throw together carelessly:
mess up
To damage; injure.
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  1. To damage; injure.
  2. To botch, bungle; to perform poorly on.
  3. To cause (another person) to make unwanted mistakes in a given task, usually through distraction or obnoxious behavior.
muddle
To confuse or befuddle (a person or the mind, for example).
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  1. To confuse or befuddle (a person or the mind, for example).
  2. To mix (a drink or the ingredients of a drink), especially with a muddler.
  3. To put into a state of confusion; confuse:
scramble
To cause (aircraft) to take off as fast as possible, as to intercept enemy aircraft.
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  1. To cause (aircraft) to take off as fast as possible, as to intercept enemy aircraft.
  2. To run forward with the ball when unable to complete an intended pass play. Used of a quarterback.
  3. (Football) To maneuver about in the backfield while seeking an open receiver to whom to pass the ball; also, to run with the ball if unable to find a receiver
snarl
To utter or give vent to with a snarl
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  1. To utter or give vent to with a snarl
  2. To speak harshly and sharply, as in anger, impatience, etc.
  3. To become tangled or confused.
snafu
To make confused or chaotic.
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  1. To make confused or chaotic.
  2. To throw into confusion
make one's head reel (or swim) (or whirl)
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    feelings (related)
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    0

      Synonym Study

      • Dumbfound specifically implies as its effect a nonplused or confounded state in which one is momentarily struck speechless
      • Nonplus implies such perplexity or confusion that one is utterly incapable of speaking, acting, or thinking further
      • Bewilder implies such utter confusion that the mind is staggered beyond the ability to think clearly
      • Perplex , in addition, implies uncertainty or even worry as to what to think, say, or do
      • Puzzle implies that one has great difficulty in understanding or solving something, as a situation or problem, because of its intricacy or baffling quality
      • Confound implies such confusion as completely frustrates or greatly astonishes one
      • Confuse implies a mixing up mentally to a greater or lesser degree
      Find another word for confuse. In this page you can discover 128 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for confuse, like: puzzle, perplex, daze, jumble, disconcert, flurry, jumble, mix-up, garble, blend and mix.

      Sentence Examples

      • It would only confuse the issue further.

      • For the same reason it is erroneous to confuse " all existing" with a general idea.

      • These difficulties were, in the main, the outcome of the peculiar constitution of the empire, of the singular compromise which it represented between ~ the traditional medieval polity and the organization of a modern state, and of the conflicts of ideals and of interests to which this gave rise; these being complicated by the masterful personality of the emperor William, and his tendency to confuse his position as German emperor by the will of the princes with his position as king of Prussia by the grace of God.

      • The tips of unripened wood should be cut back about one-third their length at an outwardly placed bud, and the chief pruning thereafter required will be to cut away inwardly directed shoots which cross or crowd each other and tend to confuse the centre of the tree.

      • Don't confuse love with pity, Carmen.

      More sentences →

      Words that mention confuse in the Dictionary

      Words near confuse in the Thesaurus