confuse synonyms

confuse

v.

puzzle, perplex, bewilder, confound, nonplus, disconcert, abash, fluster, discompose, flurry, dumbfound, upset, befuddle, baffle, mislead, misinform, embarrass, daze, astonish, disarrange, disorder, jumble, mix up, garble, scramble, blend, mix, mingle, cloud, becloud, fog, stir up, agitate, bedevil, worry, trouble, snarl, unsettle, disorient, muddle, clutter, darken, addle, discomfit, fuddle, complicate, involve, rattle, unhinge, derange, frustrate, perturb, dismay, faze, distract, entangle, encumber, befog, obscure, obfuscate, mystify, lead astray, addle the wits, embroil, render uncertain, make a hash of*, make a mess of*, throw off*, throw off the scent*, foul up*, ball up*, cross up*, put at a loss*, stump*, make one's head swim*, flummox*, throw*, discombobulate*; see also disturb 2, hide 1, tangle.

Antonyms clear*, clarify*, untangle.

confuse implies a mixing up mentally to a greater or lesser degree; confound implies such confusion as completely frustrates or greatly astonishes one; puzzle implies that one has great difficulty in understanding or solving something, as a situation or problem, because of its intricacy or baffling quality; perplex, in addition, implies uncertainty or even worry as to what to think, say, or do; bewilder implies such utter confusion that the mind is staggered beyond the ability to think clearly; nonplus implies such perplexity or confusion that one is utterly incapable of speaking, acting, or thinking further; dumbfound specifically implies as its effect a nonplused or confounded state in which one is momentarily struck speechless

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.