Word.ws English Dictionary

Synonyms of confuse

44 similar words · 10 opposite words

Another word for confuse is puzzle. Other synonyms of confuse are dazzle, jumble, muddle, baffle and fluster. The opposite of confuse is distinguish.

Synonyms and similar words for confuse

adjectiveSynonym of confused.

verbMore synonyms

  • flummoxTo confuse; to fluster; to flabbergast.
  • mistake
  • addleTo make or become addled; to muddle or confuse.
  • baffleTo confuse or perplex (someone) completely; to bewilder, to confound, to puzzle.
  • vex
  • lose
  • embroilTo bring (something) into a state of confusion or uproar; to complicate, to confuse, to jumble.
  • stick
  • stumpTo stop, confuse, or puzzle.
  • baffoundTo perplex; to bewilder.
  • bamboozleTo confuse, frustrate or perplex.
  • bedevilTo perplex or bewilder.
  • befuddleTo perplex, confuse (someone).
  • throwTo confuse or mislead.
  • bemud figurativelyTo confuse; muddle.
  • bemuseTo confuse or bewilder.
  • bewilderTo confuse, disorientate, or puzzle someone, especially with many different choices.
  • bumfuzzleTo confuse or fluster.
  • complicate
  • confoundTo fail to see the difference; to mix up; to confuse right and wrong.
  • confuddle slangTo confuse thoroughly.
  • confuzzle slangTo confuse or puzzle.
  • dazzleTo confuse or overpower the sight of (someone or something, such as a sensor) by means of excessive brightness.
  • discombobulateTo throw into a state of confusion; to befuddle or perplex.
  • disconcertTo bring into confusion.
  • blind
  • dumbfoundTo confuse and bewilder; to leave speechless.
  • entangle figurativelyTo ensnare.
  • ferhoodleTo confuse or puzzle.
  • flabagast
  • flabbergastTo overwhelm with bewilderment; to amaze, confound, or stun, especially in a ludicrous manner.
  • flabbergasterTo perplex or amaze; to shock or frighten.
  • flurry
  • flusterTo throw (someone) into a state of confusion or panic; to befuddle, to confuse.
  • fuddleTo confuse or befuddle.
  • jumbleTo mix or confuse.
  • mix upTo confuse or reverse.
  • muddleTo mix together, to mix up; to confuse.
  • muddy figurativelyTo confuse (a person or their thinking); to muddle.
  • ravelTo confuse or perplex (someone or something).
  • perplex
  • puzzleTo cause (oneself or someone, or their mind, etc.) to feel confused or mystified because they cannot understand a...
  • knot obsolete

Opposite of confuse

verbMore antonyms

Meaning of confuse

  1. verb To puzzle, perplex, baffle, bewilder (somebody); to afflict by being complicated, contradictory, or otherwise difficult to understand.
  2. verb To mix up, muddle up (one thing with another); to mistake (one thing for another).
  3. verb To mix thoroughly; to confound; to disorder.

Full definition of confuse

confuse in other languages

Questions about synonyms of confuse

What is another word for confuse?
Confuse has 44 synonyms on Word.ws, such as puzzle, dazzle, jumble, muddle, baffle, fluster, bewilder and embroil.
What is the opposite of confuse?
The opposite of confuse is distinguish. Other antonyms of confuse are organise.
What does confuse mean?
Confuse means to puzzle, perplex, baffle, bewilder (somebody); to afflict by being complicated, contradictory, or otherwise difficult to understand.

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: confuse (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this page: “Synonyms of confuse.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/confuse. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.