Meaning of confuse in English

1. Pronunciation

   /kənˈfjuz/

   US accent

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   UK accent

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1. Verb

   confuse

   Etymology

   Middle English (in the sense ‘rout, bring to ruin’): from Old French confus, from Latin confusus, past participle of confundere‘mingle together’ (see confound). Originally all senses of the verb were passive, and therefore appeared only as the past participle confused; the active voice occurred rarely until the 19th century when it began to replace confound

   Definitions

   1. mistake one thing for another

   Examples

   • « you are confusing me with the other candidate »
   • « I mistook her for the secretary »
2. 2. be confusing or perplexing to

   Examples

   • « 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. 3. cause to feel embarrassment

   Examples

   • « The constant attention of the young man confused her »
4. 4. assemble without order or sense

   Examples

   • « She jumbles the words when she is supposed to write a sentence »
5. 5. make unclear or incomprehensible

   Examples

   • « The new tax return forms only confuse »
6. 6. make unclear, indistinct, or blurred

   Examples

   • « Her remarks confused the debate »
   • « Their words obnubilate their intentions »