# confuse

/kənˈfjuz/ (US) · /kənfjˈuːz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/confuse
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to puzzle someone

verb · CEFR B1

to make it difficult for someone to understand something.

For teachers: to perplex or bewilder someone by being complex, contradictory, or unclear.

- The new road signs are very small and they confuse many drivers.
- The technical jargon in the manual served only to confuse the new recruits, who were already struggling with the software's interface.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice to describe a mental state: 'I am confused.'

### 2. to mix up two things

verb · CEFR B1

to mistake one person or thing for another.

For teachers: to fail to distinguish between two or more people or things; to muddle items in one's mind.

- I always confuse the twins because they look and sound exactly the same.
- Inexperienced collectors often confuse this common variety of quartz with the much rarer and more valuable white topaz.

Usage: Typically follows the pattern 'confuse A with B' or 'confuse A and B'.

## Examples

- The complicated instructions confuse many new users.
- I often confuse the two sisters because they have such similar voices on the phone.
- The witness's contradictory statements served only to confuse the jury, leading to a lengthy deliberation as they attempted to reconcile the conflicting evidence.

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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.