1
as in difficult
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2
as in perplexing
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in baffling
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty the similar-sounding words "censure" and "censor" often confuse people
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2
as in complicating
to make (something) unclear to the understanding stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts
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3
as in mistaking
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related a lot of people confuse popular fame with enduring achievement
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4
as in embarrassing
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress she was confused by the shocking bluntness of his marriage proposal
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5
as in disrupting
to undo the proper order or arrangement of vandals had hopelessly confused the papers in the office files
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of confusing
Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 24 Apr. 2026 This delightfully confusing creation from Slovenian designer Lara Bohinc features a shiny aluminum chair physically held within the arms of a reclining mahogany copy of the chair below. —Francesca Perry, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026 In March, Fetterman told Chris Cuomo on NewsNation that his popularity with Republicans is confusing. —Finch Walker, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026 Customers have posted comments on social media about the confusing changes. —Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026 The student group’s attorney, former Republican lawmaker Anthony Sabatini, countered that the university’s decision was based on a flawed and confusing chain of authority, relying heavily on an outside political organization whose role is now in dispute. —Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026 The rollout has been confusing, with unclear communication and a transition process that left many residents frustrated. —Mandy Havlik, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026 If in previous seasons, Euphoria foregrounded erotic imagery to make a point about the confusing and often painful process of coming to terms with one’s sexuality, now that poignancy is gone. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026 With demand outpacing the availability of providers, wait times can stretch for months or even years, depending on the procedure, while insurance coverage is patchy and confusing. —Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 20 Apr. 2026
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026 That’s not all that’s confusing across the first season. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026 Their jerseys are very cool, but confusing The Belgian national team does have a very cool new away kit (uniform) styled after famous surrealist artist René Magritte. —Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 7 Apr. 2026 The Wall Street Journal added the CIA assisted in the operation, confusing Iran about the status of the rescue mission and drones were used to keep others away from the pilot. —Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026 As if that wasn’t confusing enough, not all Christians agree on what day of the calendar that specific Sunday is. —Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 4 Apr. 2026 However, following the path of Artemis II may be confusing as the astronauts, mission control and others use confusing jargon and phrases. —Bymary Kekatos, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026 Umpires have approached Brian Utley at baseball tournaments, confusing him for the older Chase Utley. —Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026 This device is a high-tech centrifuge that simulates microgravity by spinning vials with samples around two axes, effectively confusing the cells inside as to their position in space. —Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The layout of the hotel is a little confusing because of a lack of signposts and labels. —Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 24 Apr. 2026 This delightfully confusing creation from Slovenian designer Lara Bohinc features a shiny aluminum chair physically held within the arms of a reclining mahogany copy of the chair below. —Francesca Perry, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026 In March, Fetterman told Chris Cuomo on NewsNation that his popularity with Republicans is confusing. —Finch Walker, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026 Customers have posted comments on social media about the confusing changes. —Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026 The student group’s attorney, former Republican lawmaker Anthony Sabatini, countered that the university’s decision was based on a flawed and confusing chain of authority, relying heavily on an outside political organization whose role is now in dispute. —Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026 The rollout has been confusing, with unclear communication and a transition process that left many residents frustrated. —Mandy Havlik, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026 If in previous seasons, Euphoria foregrounded erotic imagery to make a point about the confusing and often painful process of coming to terms with one’s sexuality, now that poignancy is gone. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026 With demand outpacing the availability of providers, wait times can stretch for months or even years, depending on the procedure, while insurance coverage is patchy and confusing. —Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
But Neptune also blurs lines, which is why its influence can feel mysterious or even confusing at times. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026 That’s not all that’s confusing across the first season. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026 Their jerseys are very cool, but confusing The Belgian national team does have a very cool new away kit (uniform) styled after famous surrealist artist René Magritte. —Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 7 Apr. 2026 The Wall Street Journal added the CIA assisted in the operation, confusing Iran about the status of the rescue mission and drones were used to keep others away from the pilot. —Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026 As if that wasn’t confusing enough, not all Christians agree on what day of the calendar that specific Sunday is. —Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 4 Apr. 2026 However, following the path of Artemis II may be confusing as the astronauts, mission control and others use confusing jargon and phrases. —Bymary Kekatos, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026 Umpires have approached Brian Utley at baseball tournaments, confusing him for the older Chase Utley. —Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026 This device is a high-tech centrifuge that simulates microgravity by spinning vials with samples around two axes, effectively confusing the cells inside as to their position in space. —Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confusing
Adjective
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Putting in the new chip was more difficult.— Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
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The rest will be more difficult.— Doug Haller, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Perhaps the most perplexing part of the Nancy Guthrie investigation for the general public has been the lack of information.— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 14 Apr. 2026
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But as the adorable pair get acclimated to life in the nest, they've been observed doing some perplexing – perhaps even seemingly concerning – behavior.— Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As the castle’s internal order collapses under the weight of a string of baffling crimes, Araki strikes a fragile alliance with Kuroda Kanbei – a razor-minded captive languishing in his own dungeon – in a race to root out a traitor before Oda’s army closes in.— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Apr. 2026
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This inversion explains a host of baffling political and cultural phenomena of late.— Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Hundreds of thousands of Cuban Americans are pursuing compensation for homes, businesses and land confiscated by Castro’s government, complicating potential negotiations.— Joshua Goodman, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
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That could play out again with Cherfilus-McCormick and Mills, though one complicating factor with the Florida Republican is his ethics investigation isn’t as far along.— Jared Gans, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Sabrina Carpenter on Saturday issued an apology on X after mistaking a fan’s Zaghrouta, an Arabic celebration call, with yodeling during her headlining Coachella set on Friday night.— Jack Dunn, Variety, 11 Apr. 2026
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Cooper is enormous, and there is no mistaking his power.— Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This risks embarrassing them if it is damaged and there is nothing that can be done about it.— Judith Martin, Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2026
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And when that happens, Jamahl Mosley — a good coach and an even better man — will be the fall guy for a team that is embarrassing itself on a national scale and getting exposed in the league standings.— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While disrupting the business of an American multinational company may seem a pallid response to the destruction of an Iranian primary school where more than a hundred children were killed, such asymmetric attacks in the physical and digital realms have been a feature of this conflict.— Sue Halpern, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
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Treasury has issued sanctions on more than 1,000 targets since 2025 under the current maximum pressure campaign, the official said, aimed at disrupting Iran’s oil trade and financial networks.— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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During the Cold War, this meant limiting the Soviet Union’s influence in the region, while contending with the development of nuclear weapons by two troublesome allies, Israel and Pakistan.— Jeffrey Taliaferro, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2026
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That can be troublesome as consumers are grappling with higher grocery prices and strained budgets.— Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confusing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/confusing. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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