Confuse Definition & Meaning

confuse
verb
  1. mistake one thing for another; "you are confusing me with the other candidate"; "I mistook her for the secretary"
  2. be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly; "These questions confuse even the experts"; "This question completely threw me"; "This question befuddled even the teacher"
  3. cause to feel embarrassment; "The constant attention of the young man confused her"
  4. assemble without order or sense; "She jumbles the words when she is supposed to write a sentence"
  5. make unclear, indistinct, or blurred; "Her remarks confused the debate"; "Their words obnubilate their intentions"

Synonyms for confuse

bedevil verb

treat cruelly; "The children tormented the stuttering teacher" be confusing or perplexing to

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befuddle verb

be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly; "These questions confuse even the experts

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blur noun

a hazy or indistinct representation; "it happened so fast it was just a blur

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confound verb

be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly; "These questions confuse even the experts

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consternate verb

fill with anxiety, dread, dismay, or confusion; "After the terrorist attack, people look consternated"

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discombobulate verb

cause to be confused emotionally be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly

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disconcert verb

cause to feel embarrassment; "The constant attention of the young man confused her" cause to lose one's composure

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flurry noun

a rapid active commotion a light brief snowfall and gust of wind (or something resembling that)

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fox noun

alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail

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fuddle noun

a confused multitude of things make stupid with alcohol consume alcohol

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"Confuse" in song lyrics

See how confuse is used in real songs:

  • "I'm a mistress that you can't confuse"
    Crooked I f/ Virginya Slim — Still Death Row
  • "Twins so perfect, so easy to confuse"
    Cunninlynguists f/ Club Dub, PackFM — Hypnotized
  • "get devoured I choose to abuse, misuse and confuse"
    MC Hammer — Too Legit to Quit

Words that rhyme with confuse

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Usage tips for "confuse"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "confuse" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for confuse to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with confuse ↔ Synonyms for confuse 🔬 Words containing confuse

Frequently asked questions

What does confuse mean?
mistake one thing for another; "you are confusing me with the other candidate"; "I mistook her for the secretary" be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly; "These questions confuse even the experts"; "This question completely threw me"; "This question befuddled even the teacher" cause to feel embarrassment; "The constant attention of the young man confused her" assemble without order or sense
What part of speech is confuse?
Confuse is a verb.
How many definitions does confuse have?
Confuse has 5 definitions across 1 part of speech (verb).

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