Meaning & Definition of word "Confuse"

Confuse

/kənˈfjuːz/

1. to make (someone) unable to think clearly or understand something.
- Example: The directions were so complicated that they managed to confuse everyone in the group.
2. to mistakenly identify as something else.
- Example: He often confuses the names of his childhood friends.
3. to mix up or be unable to distinguish between two or more things.
- Example: She confused the two similar-looking plants and ended up watering the wrong one.
4. to make a situation more complicated or difficult to understand.
- Example: His explanation only served to confuse the issue further.

Middle English, from the Latin 'confundere', meaning 'to pour together'

confuse the issue:

to make a situation more complicated or unclear

confuse (someone) with (something):

to mistakenly believe that a person or thing is something else

baffled:

unable to understand or explain something

bewildered:

feeling confused or disoriented

muddle:

to bring into a disordered or confusing state

Meaning: loss of clarity

Example Sentence: That lesson really confused me; I didn't get any of it.

Meaning: to mix up two or more things

Example Sentence: I totally confused their names during the introductions.