Definition of confuse

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con·fuse    (kn-fyz) KEY 

VERB:
con·fused, con·fus·ing, con·fus·es
VERB:
tr.

1. 1. To cause to be unable to think with clarity or act with intelligence or understanding; throw off.
   2. To cause to feel embarrassment.
2. 1. To mistake (for another): confused effusiveness with affection.
   2. To make opaque; blur: "The old labels ... confuse debate instead of clarifying it" (Christopher Lasch).
   3. To assemble without order or sense; jumble.
3. Archaic To bring to ruination.

VERB:
intr.

To make something unclear or incomprehensible: a new tax code that only further confuses.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English confusen, from Old French confus, perplexed, from Latin cnfsus, past participle of cnfundere, to mix together ; see confound

OTHER FORMS:
con·fusa·ble(Adjective), con·fusing·ly(Adverb)

SYNONYMS:
confuse, addle, befuddle, discombobulate, fuddle, muddle, throw

These verbs mean to cause to be unclear in mind or intent: heavy traffic that confused the driver; problems that addle my brain; a question that befuddled even the professor; was discombobulated by all of the possibilities; a complex plot line that fuddled my comprehension; a student who was muddled by endless facts and figures; behavior that really threw me.