English verb: confuse | |||
1. | confuse (cognition) mistake one thing for another | ||
Samples | You are confusing me with the other candidate. I mistook her for the secretary. | ||
Synonyms | confound | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Somebody ----s something PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | misidentify, mistake | ||
Verb group | blur, confuse, confuse, jumble, mix up, obnubilate, obscure | ||
2. | confuse (cognition) be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly | ||
Samples | These questions confuse even the experts. This question completely threw me. This question befuddled even the teacher. | ||
Synonyms | bedevil, befuddle, confound, discombobulate, fox, fuddle, throw | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | be | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | amaze, baffle, beat, bewilder, demoralize, disorient, disorientate, dumbfound, flummox, get, gravel, mystify, nonplus, perplex, pose, puzzle, stick, stupefy, vex | ||
Verb group | confuse, disconcert, flurry, put off | ||
3. | confuse (emotion) cause to feel embarrassment | ||
Samples | The constant attention of the young man confused her. | ||
Examples | The bad news will confuse him, The good news will confuse her, The performance is likely to confuse Sue | ||
Synonyms | disconcert, flurry, put off | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | abash, embarrass | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | bother, deflect, distract, fluster | ||
Verb group | bedevil, befuddle, confound, confuse, discombobulate, fox, fuddle, throw | ||
4. | confuse (creation) assemble without order or sense | ||
Samples | She jumbles the words when she is supposed to write a sentence. | ||
Synonyms | jumble, mix up | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | assemble, piece, put together, set up, tack, tack together | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | addle, muddle, puddle | ||
Verb group | confound, confuse | ||
5. | confuse (cognition) make unclear, indistinct, or blurred | ||
Samples | Her remarks confused the debate. Their words obnubilate their intentions. | ||
Synonyms | blur, obnubilate, obscure | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | alter, change, modify | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | muddy | ||
Verb group | confound, confuse | ||