# confusing

/kənˈfjuzɪŋ/ (US) · /kənfjˈuːzɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/confusing
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. hard to understand

adjective · CEFR B1

difficult to understand because it is not clear or is very complicated.

For teachers: describing something that causes a state of bewilderment or lack of clarity.

- The street signs in this city are very confusing for new drivers.
- The instructions were so confusing that even the experienced technicians had to consult the original manual to complete the assembly.

## Examples

- The map is very confusing and we are lost.
- The new software update has a confusing interface that makes simple tasks take much longer.
- The witness provided a confusing account of the evening, frequently contradicting her earlier statements and leaving the jury unsure of the timeline.

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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.