confounded
Americanadjective
-
damned (used euphemistically).
That is a confounded lie.
- Synonyms:
- objectionable, execrable, damnable
adjective
-
bewildered; confused
-
informal (prenominal) execrable; damned
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of confounded
First recorded in Middle English; see origin at confound, -ed 2
Explanation
When you're confounded, you are confused. A confounded student might struggle with one question on a math test for twenty minutes. If a bird flies into your house through an open window and flaps around in a befuddled panic, it's confounded. A confounded taxi driver might take you in circles around your destination, and a confounded American might find himself unable to communicate with French waiters in Paris. Another, more British way to use the adjective confounded is as a mild oath, to emphasize annoyance: "I can't take any more of your confounded noise!"
Vocabulary lists containing confounded
In a Pickle: Words for When You're in Trouble
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The Crucible
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"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act III
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He also holds a significant stake in World Liberty Financial, a crypto firm that was co-founded by his sons.
From Salon • Jul. 1, 2026
Blake, who co-founded the mobile library with Woodruff, arrived a few minutes later with food and more clothing.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 27, 2026
Black left Apollo Global Management, which he co-founded, in 2021 amid scrutiny over his Epstein ties.
From BBC • Jun. 27, 2026
Flock CEO Garrett Langley, an electrical engineer, co-founded the company after a series of break-ins in his Atlanta neighborhood.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026
A few months later, Robert Beard co-founded a larger project, yourDictionary.com, that included his previous website and was launched in February 2000.
From The Internet and Languages [around the year 2000] by Lebert, Marie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
