confuse

verb

(transitive) to puzzle, perplex, baffle, bewilder (somebody); to afflict by being complicated, contradictory, or otherwise difficult to understand

(transitive) To mix up, muddle up (one thing with another); to mistake (one thing for another).

(transitive) To mix thoroughly; to confound; to disorder.

(intransitive) To be confused.

(transitive, dated) To make uneasy and ashamed; to embarrass.

(transitive, obsolete) To rout; discomfit.

adjective

(obsolete) Synonym of confused.

Roots

fundofus- · Latin · pour

Words related to confuse

bedevilv obnubilatev disorientatev confusednessn nonplusv unnervev misinformv deludev frustratev annoyv deluderv frustraterv deceivev confusionn

Synonyms & related words for confuse

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of confuse — including befuddle, discombobulate, confound, disconcert, fuddle, bewilder. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to confuse

Explore words related to confuse — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include bedevil, obnubilate, disorientate, confusedness, nonplus, unnerve, misinform, delude. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for confuse

Common synonyms for confuse include befuddle, discombobulate, confound, disconcert, fuddle, bewilder, flummox, bemuse — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does confuse come from?

The word confuse breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root fus-, from Latin fundo (“pour”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.