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Synonyms

confusing

American  
[kuhn-fyoo-zing] / kənˈfyu zɪŋ /

adjective

  1. causing or tending to cause confusion.

    a confusing attempt at explanation.
confusing British  
/ kənˈfjuːzɪŋ /

adjective

  1. causing bewilderment; difficult to follow; puzzling

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of confusing

First recorded in 1840–50; confuse + -ing 2

Explanation

Something that's confusing doesn't make any sense — it perplexes you. A confusing, hand-drawn map might lead you in circles as you try to find your destination. It can be confusing to walk out of a dark movie theater into the bright sunlight, or to get a phone call from someone whose voice you don't recognize. Situations like this disorient you a little bit. Things that are difficult and complicated, like a really hard math test, can also be confusing. The adjective comes from confuse, which has a Latin root, confundere, "mingle together."

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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.

And the information a patient gets through the NHS app can be confusing.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

Since the NBA ended its long-running deal to air games on TNT and TBS, things have gotten far more confusing for fans.

From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026

Kilcher said she found the note confusing at the time.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

It made the whole situation a bit confusing.

From Slate • May 4, 2026

I know my last letter was probably confusing.

From "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" by Janae Marks

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.