# confound

/ˈkɑnˌfaʊnd/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/confound
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Synonyms

confuse, baffle, puzzle, bewilder, perplex, mystify

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.