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confused

adj.
US //kənˈfjuzd// UK //kənfjˈuːzd// con·fused
  1. 1 unable to understand (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    unable to think clearly or understand what is happening.

    characterised by a lack of clear understanding or a state of mental uncertainty.

    Example

    I was totally confused by the new bus timetable and missed my stop.

    Example

    The students looked visibly confused when the professor began discussing advanced calculus without reviewing the foundational concepts first.

    Pitfall
    The instructions were very confused.
    The instructions were very confusing.

    Use 'confused' for the person who feels the emotion and 'confusing' for the thing that causes the feeling.

  2. 2 disorganized or messy (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    not clear or organized; messy and difficult to follow.

    lacking order, clarity, or a logical sequence; jumbled or muddled in presentation.

    Example

    The witness gave a confused account of the accident, changing her story twice.

    Example

    The report presented a confused set of data that made it nearly impossible for the board to reach a definitive conclusion.

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  1. 3 disoriented (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    feeling lost or not knowing where you are.

    suffering from a lack of physical or situational orientation.

    Example

    The old man was found wandering the streets, looking tired and confused.

    Example

    After the minor head injury, the patient appeared slightly confused regarding his current location and the date.

Origin

Originally from Middle English confused (“frustrated, ruined”), from Anglo-Norman confus + Middle English -ed (past participial suffix), from Latin cōnfūsus, past participle of cōnfundō; now equivalent to confuse (a back-formation) + -ed.

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