confused
adjective
con·fused kən-ˈfyüzd 
1
a
: being perplexed or disconcerted
the confused students
b
: disoriented with regard to one's sense of time, place, or identity
The patient became confused.
2
: indistinguishable
a zigzag, crisscross, confused trail
Harry Hervey
Harry Hervey3
: being disordered or mixed up
a contradictory and often confused story
confusedly
kən-ˈfyü-zəd-lē
adverb -ˈfyüzd-
confusedness
kən-ˈfyü-zəd-nəs
noun -ˈfyüz(d)-
Synonyms
- chaotic
- cluttered
- disarranged
- disarrayed
- disheveled
- dishevelled
- disordered
- disorderly
- higgledy-piggledy
- hugger-mugger
- jumbled
- littered
- messed
- messy
- muddled
- mussed
- mussy
- pell-mell
- rumpled
- sloppy
- topsy-turvy
- tousled
- tumbled
- unkempt
- untidy
- upside-down
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
I've never been so confused. We're confused about what to do next. He gave a confused speech denying the accusations.
Recent Examples on the Web Money matters are way more easily confused than usual. Chicago Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 And that would be Georgia and Alabama for any Ohio State fans who might still seem confused. Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 3 Sep. 2022 In the cute clip, Hampton holds the camera as Cleopatra focuses on the screen on the animated filter, seemingly confused as to where her dog ears and nose came from. Georgia Slater, Peoplemag, 29 Aug. 2022 The political relevance to today’s fascist movements and historical denialism is welcome, yet the point of securing Hitler’s remains grows confused. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 29 Aug. 2022 Conflicting and evolving messages can leave a parent both terrified and wildly confused. Shannon Hall, Scientific American, 25 Aug. 2022 Lenny told them that witnesses in shock get confused, and people grieve differently. Amanda J. Crawford, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2022 One of the boys’ aunts, whose family lives in the same apartment building, said her children are confused over the sudden disappearance of their favorite cousins. Heba Farouk Mahfouz, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022 During the exchange that preceded the question about Biden, the 76-year-old congresswoman seemed to become confused. Grayson Quay, The Week, 14 Aug. 2022 See More
Chicago Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 And that would be Georgia and Alabama for any Ohio State fans who might still seem confused. Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 3 Sep. 2022 In the cute clip, Hampton holds the camera as Cleopatra focuses on the screen on the animated filter, seemingly confused as to where her dog ears and nose came from. Georgia Slater, Peoplemag, 29 Aug. 2022 The political relevance to today’s fascist movements and historical denialism is welcome, yet the point of securing Hitler’s remains grows confused. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 29 Aug. 2022 Conflicting and evolving messages can leave a parent both terrified and wildly confused. Shannon Hall, Scientific American, 25 Aug. 2022 Lenny told them that witnesses in shock get confused, and people grieve differently. Amanda J. Crawford, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2022 One of the boys’ aunts, whose family lives in the same apartment building, said her children are confused over the sudden disappearance of their favorite cousins. Heba Farouk Mahfouz, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022 During the exchange that preceded the question about Biden, the 76-year-old congresswoman seemed to become confused. Grayson Quay, The Week, 14 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English — more at confuse
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Medical Definition
confused
adjective
con·fused kən-ˈfyüzd
: affected with mental confusion
confused 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in messy
lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness the cans were lying in a confused jumble in the basement Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- messy
- chaotic
- messed
- jumbled
- littered
- muddled
- cluttered
- sloppy
- filthy
- dirty
- disheveled
- disarranged
- shaggy
- tangled
- disarrayed
- disordered
- tumbled
- unkempt
- wrinkled
- untidy
- stained
- rumpled
- disorderly
- tousled
- spotted
- mussed
- nasty
- dishevelled
- mussy
- knotted
- higgledy-piggledy
- blackened
- topsy-turvy
- smudged
- bedraggled
- neglected
- upside-down
- begrimed
- unclean
- grimy
- slovenly
- snarled
- besmirched
- out of joint
- sullied
- at sixes and sevens
- contaminated
- draggled
- pell-mell
- polluted
- dingy
- dowdy
- soiled
- uncleanly
- mucky
- hugger-mugger
- frowsy
- grubby
- uncombed
- sloven
- bemired
- adulterated
- tainted
- squalid
- befouled
- neglectful
- defiled
- grungy
- slatternly
- foul
- negligent
- cruddy
- shabby
- grotty
- sordid
- frowzy
- sleazy
- seedy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- neat
- organized
- orderly
- ordered
- cleaned
- tidy
- uncluttered
- careful
- crisp
- trim
- clean
- kempt
- unsullied
- systematic
- regular
- sparkling
- immaculate
- spotless
- hygienic
- snug
- cleanly
- stainless
- antiseptic
- methodical
- fussy
- shipshape
- systematized
- finicky
- neatened
- fastidious
- unsoiled
- tidied
- methodic
- meticulous
- well-ordered
- combed
- spic-and-span
- groomed
- bandbox
- manicured
- unpolluted
- spick-and-span
- wholesome
- untainted
- undefiled
- well-groomed
- taintless
2
as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion she was briefly confused after her fall from the horse Synonyms & Similar Words
- bewildered
- dazed
- stunned
- distracted
- dizzy
- befuddled
- silly
- bemused
- stupefied
- confounded
- muddleheaded
- fogged
- bedeviled
- at sea
- dopey
- unconscious
- spacey
- addled
- befogged
- pixilated
- zonked
- raddled
- punchy
- slaphappy
- muzzy
- shell-shocked
- mixed-up
- addlepated
- addle
- punch-drunk
- bushed
- pixillated
- dopy
- out of it
- spaced
- zonked-out
- spacy
- spaced-out
- senseless
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- conscious
- clearheaded
- alert
confused
2 of 2verb
1
as in puzzled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty the similar-sounding words "censure" and "censor" often confuse people Synonyms & Similar Words
- puzzled
- baffled
- perplexed
- bewildered
- befuddled
- embarrassed
- mystified
- disoriented
- flummoxed
- stunned
- bemused
- flustered
- discombobulated
- muddled
- disturbed
- vexed
- confounded
- bamboozled
- upset
- bothered
- fuddled
- rattled
- muddied
- mazed
- posed
- addled
- unsettled
- befogged
- foxed
- got
- buffaloed
- graveled
- nonplussed
- disconcerted
- agitated
- stumped
- beat
- stuck
- distressed
- discomfited
- vext
- dismayed
- mortified
- blew one's mind
- disquieted
- perturbed
- misled
- abashed
- discomforted
- gravelled
- went to one's head
- chagrined
- fazed
- deluded
- misguided
- deceived
- duped
- nonplused
- unhinged
- fooled
- tricked
- weirded out
- discomposed
- discountenanced
- beguiled
- hoodwinked
- humbugged
- strung along
- gulled
- snowed
- took in
- hoaxed
- cozened
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- satisfied
- assured
- reassured
- informed
- enlightened
2
as in complicated
to make (something) unclear to the understanding stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts Synonyms & Similar Words
- complicated
- blurred
- muddied
- clouded
- upset
- perplexed
- obfuscated
- fogged
- disrupted
- beclouded
- befogged
- disturbed
- tangled
- sophisticated
- snarled
- muddled
- jumbled
- scrambled
- disheveled
- disarranged
- disordered
- disarrayed
- entangled
- shuffled
- discomposed
- tousled
- dishevelled
- mixed (up)
- messed (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- clarified
- simplified
- cleared (up)
- illuminated
- streamlined
- unraveled
- straightened (out)
- analyzed
- disentangled
- deciphered
- decoded
- undid
- untangled
- broke down
- unscrambled
3
as in confounded
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related a lot of people confuse popular fame with enduring achievement Synonyms & Similar Words
- confounded
- conflated
- mistook
- misidentified
- misapplied
- misnamed
- miscalled
- mixed (up)
- lumped (together)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- separated
- differentiated
- distinguished
- discriminated
- differenced
4
as in embarrassed
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress she was confused by the shocking bluntness of his marriage proposal Synonyms & Similar Words
- embarrassed
- flustered
- nonplussed
- disconcerted
- disturbed
- upset
- rattled
- bothered
- mortified
- discomfited
- unsettled
- abashed
- confounded
- nonplused
- fazed
- dismayed
- disquieted
- humiliated
- distressed
- perturbed
- agitated
- discomforted
- chagrined
- discountenanced
- unhinged
- shamed
- humbled
- discomposed
- degraded
- demeaned
- debased
- put off
- put out
- queered
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- relieved
- comforted
- calmed
- soothed
- encouraged
- consoled
- reassured
- cheered
- assured
- emboldened
- heartened
- buoyed
5
as in disturbed
to undo the proper order or arrangement of vandals had hopelessly confused the papers in the office files Synonyms & Similar Words
- disturbed
- disrupted
- upset
- shuffled
- muddled
- jumbled
- disorganized
- disheveled
- disarranged
- scrambled
- disjointed
- disordered
- deranged
- snarled
- disarrayed
- dislocated
- tangled
- discomposed
- tousled
- unsettled
- dishevelled
- mussed
- perturbed
- rumpled
- cluttered
- hashed
- tumbled
- agitated
- embroiled
- entangled
- mixed (up)
- messed (up)
- stirred (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ordered
- organized
- regulated
- arranged
- disposed
- aligned
- classified
- straightened (up)
- ranged
- adjusted
- tidied
- fixed
- queued
- arrayed
- lined up
- marshalled
- drew up
- systematized
- codified
- lined
- made up
- alined
- marshaled
- methodized
- groomed
- systemized
- spruced (up)
- unscrambled
- biogenic
- biogenies
- biogenous
- biogens
- biogeny
- biogeocenose
- biogeocenoses
- biogeocenosis
- biogeochemical
- biogeochemicals
- biogeochemistries
- biogeochemistry
- biogeocoenose
- biogeocoenoses
- gynobase
- gynobaseous
- gynobasic
- gynocardia oil
- gynocentric
- gynocracies
- gynocracy
- gynodioecious
- gynodioeciously
- gynodioecism
- gynodioecisms