Added 5 October 2026
confuse
/kənˈfjuːz/ verb
In Latin: cōnfundō Wiktionary
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about confuse at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
To puzzle, perplex, baffle, bewilder (somebody); to afflict by being complicated, contradictory, or otherwise difficult to understand.
It confused me when I went to the office and nobody was there, but then I realised it was Sunday.
-
To mix up, muddle up (one thing with another); to mistake (one thing for another).
People who say "hola" to Italians are confusing Italian with Spanish.
-
To mix thoroughly; to confound; to disorder.
The dense fog utterly confused traffic on the highway.
adjective
- Synonym of confused.
Origin
Back-formation from confused, from Middle English confused (“frustrated, ruined”), from Anglo-Norman confus, from Latin cōnfūsus, past participle of cōnfundō.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)