Word
confound
Phoneticscon·found, stress on the first syllable
/ˈkɑnˌfaʊnd/
Definition
v. to confuse or surprise someone because something is unexpected or hard to explain. You use it when what happens does not match what people thought would happen.
v. to cause confusion or surprise by contradicting expectations or eluding explanation. Often applied to results, evidence, or behaviour that undermines a prediction or theory.
Examples
“His strange answer confounds the teacher.”
“The young athlete confounded the experts by winning the race after months of poor results.”
“The archaeological finds confounded long-held assumptions about trade routes, suggesting contacts far earlier than historians had previously allowed.”
Examples
simple
“His strange answer confounds the teacher.”
contextual
“The young athlete confounded the experts by winning the race after months of poor results.”
complex
“The archaeological finds confounded long-held assumptions about trade routes, suggesting contacts far earlier than historians had previously allowed.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “confound” in context.
Verb
01. behaviour confound
“His erratic behaviour confounded colleagues and friends alike.”
noun + verb
02. confound critics
“Her debut novel confounded critics who had dismissed her talent.”
verb + noun
03. confound expectations
“The underdogs confounded expectations by reaching the final.”
verb + noun
04. confound experts
“The mild winter confounded experts predicting severe frost.”
verb + noun
05. confound opponents
“His flexible tactics confounded opponents throughout the season.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. completely confound
“The test results completely confounded the medical team.”
adv + verb
07. consistently confound
“Financial markets have consistently confounded forecasters this year.”
adv + verb
Noun
08. confound by complexity
“Students were confounded by the complexity of the problem.”
verb + prep + noun
09. confound with finding
“The trial confounded researchers with its unexpected finding.”
verb + prep + noun
10. be confounded by results
“Analysts were confounded by the results of the survey.”
11. completely confound expectations
“The election outcome completely confounded expectations nationwide.”
12. confound critics and experts
“The discovery confounded critics and experts in equal measure.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.
Etymology
From Middle English confounden (“destroy, ruin, perplex”), from Anglo-Norman cunfundre and Old French confondre, from Latin cōnfundō (“to mingle, mix together”). Related to found (“to melt (metals in a foundry)”) (but not to found (“to start”), nor to find) and to fusion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/confound