confuseverb
To confuse is to mix things up in the mind, so that someone cannot understand clearly or cannot tell things apart.
not understandmake someone unable to understand something or to think clearly
transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]
- The instructions on the box confused me. V + obj
- Too many choices can confuse young children. V + obj
- It confuses people when you change the plan at the last minute. V + obj
Collocations
adverb + verb completely confuse, really confuseverb + noun confuse people, confuse the readermix upthink wrongly that one person or thing is another person or thing
transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]
- People often confuse me with my brother. V + obj + prep + obj
- It is easy to confuse these two words. V + obj
- Don't confuse being busy with doing useful work. V + obj + prep + obj
Collocations
verb + noun confuse the two, confuse namesSynonyms mix up
make less clearmake a situation or subject harder to understand, often by adding things that do not matter
transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]
- Let's not confuse the issue with small details. V + obj
- The new rules only confused matters further. V + obj
Synonyms complicate
Word family
- confused
- confusing
- confusion
Usage
In the sense mix up, say confuse one thing with another, or confuse two things: I always confuse those two streets. The adjective confused describes how a person feels; confusing describes the thing that causes the feeling.