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confusion definition

con·fu·sion (kən fyo̵̅o̅z̸hən)

noun

a confusing or being confused; specif.,
  1. state of disorder
  2. bewilderment; distraction
  3. embarrassment
  4. failure to distinguish between things

Etymology: ME & OFr < L confusio

Related Forms:

confusion Idioms

covered with confusion

greatly embarrassed

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
confusion Synonyms

confusion

n.

  1. The act of confusing

    obscuring, blurring, mixing up, upsetting, disturbing, embarrassing, discomfiting, abashing, agitating, addling, fuddling, miscalculation, miscalculating, befuddling, tangling, mixing, cluttering, disarranging, unsettling, dumbfounding, confounding, perplexing, demoralization, stirring up, snarling, embroiling, misconceiving.

    Antonyms straightening, order*, arranging.

  2. A confused state

    disorder, disarray, chaos, jumble, mess, muddle, lack of clearness, lack of distinction, mixup, bewilderment, perplexity, puzzlement, disorientation, bafflement, dislocation, anarchy, complication, intricacy, untidiness, complexity, labyrinth, wilderness, discomfiture, embarrassment, abashment, difficulty, mistake, turmoil, tumult, pandemonium, bedlam, commotion, stir, flurry, ferment, imbroglio, convulsion, bustle, trouble, row, riot, uproar, fracas, agitation, discomposure, emotional upset, daze, fog, haze, blur, ambiguity, obscurity, perturbation, mystification, consternation, befuddlement, distraction, stupefaction, racket, din, Babel, hubbub, ado, disarrangement, mismanagement, excitement, flutter, dither, hysteria, disharmony, turbulence, dismay, uncertainty, maze, quandary, clutter, entanglement, tangle, disorganization, breakdown, knot, congestion, tie-up, interference, nervousness, melee, Gordian knot, derangement, snarl, snag, farrago, hodgepodge, mare's-nest, jungle*, to-do*, hurly-burly*, shutdown*, bungle*, botch*, foul-up*, screw-up*, rumpus*, scramble*, shuffle*, stew*, muddle-headedness*, discombobulation*, tizzy*, going round and round*, jam*, fix*, pretty mess*, pretty pickle*, snafu*; see also disorder 2, disturbance 2, embarrassment 1.

    Antonyms quiet*, calm*, order*, comprehension.

confusion suggests an indiscriminate mixing or putting together of things so that it is difficult to distinguish the individual elements or parts the hall was a confusion of languages; disorder and disarray imply a disturbance of the proper order or arrangement of parts the room was in disorder, her clothes were in disarray; chaos implies total and apparently irremediable lack of organization the troops are in a state of chaos; jumble suggests a confused mixture of dissimilar things his drawer was a jumble of clothing and books; muddle implies a snarled confusion resulting from mismanagement or incompetence they've made a muddle of the negotiations

covered with confusion

Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

confusion Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • avoid: The computer uses * to avoid confusion with the letter x.

Adjective modifier

  • considerable: Defining what choice means in the public sector There is considerable confusion over what enhanced choice actually means.

Modifies a noun

  • reign: As blood alcohol concentrations reach 0.18 to 0.30 percent confusion reigns.

Noun used with modifier

  • voter: Angus MacNeil ( SNP ) asked about voter confusion under the current system and said STV maximized power to voters.

Preposition: in

  • mind: Therefore despite the fact that the goods were identical, there was no likelihood of confusion in the mind of the targeted public.

Preposition: of

  • tongue: The natural consequences soon follow in the confusion of tongues.
confusion usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

confusion quotes

In thee,O L, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

-Bible (Old Testament)

O, nothing is more alluring than a levee from a couch in some confusion.

-Congreve,William

Perfections of means and confusion of goals seemöin my opinionöto characterize our age.

-Einstein, Albert

confusion quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"confusion." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/confusion>

APA Style

confusion. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/confusion

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