confusion

[ kuhn-fyoo-zhuhn ]

/ kənˈfyu ʒən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR confusion ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of confusing.

the state of being confused.

disorder; upheaval; tumult; chaos: The army retreated in confusion.

lack of clearness or distinctness: a confusion in his mind between right and wrong.

perplexity; bewilderment: The more difficult questions left us in complete confusion.

embarrassment or abashment: He blushed in confusion.

Psychiatry. a disturbed mental state; disorientation.

Archaic. defeat, overthrow, or ruin.

Nearby words

confuse, confused, confused elderly, confused flour beetle, confusing, confusion, confusticate, confutation, confute, cong, cong.

Origin of confusion

1300–50; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Latin confūsiōn- (stem of confūsiō). See confuse, -ion

SYNONYMS FOR confusion

2 distraction.

3 turmoil, jumble, mess, disarray.

6 shame, mortification.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR confusion ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formscon·fu·sion·al, adjectivepre·con·fu·sion, nounre·con·fu·sion, nounsu·per·con·fu·sion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for confusion

Despite its ranking at the bottom of most international development indexes, the conflict is shrouded by confusion.
The Year’s Most Forgotten Humanitarian Crisis|Nina Strochlic|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Bohac vowed to that when he came back next year there would be no confusion about any Christmas tree or Santa aprons.
A Field General in the War on Christmas|David Freedlander|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There was confusion because our fathers were no longer going to work.
The Congo's Forgotten Colonial Getaway|Nina Strochlic|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Putin may very well be the last optimist left in the country, which is facing a time of confusion and disappointment.
After His Disastrous Annual Press Conference, Putin Needs A Hug|Anna Nemtsova|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Her own muddled feelings of confusion, shame, and fear are what make the essay great and what make the essay her story.
The Right's Rape Trolls vs. Lena Dunham|Emily Shire|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hide it not for my help, for my honour, but tell me, Lest my time and thy time be lost days and confusion!
Poems By The Way & Love Is Enough|William Morris
The confusion of thought which has led to the misconceptions about defence as a method of war is due to several obvious causes.
Some Principles of Maritime Strategy|Julian Stafford Corbett
The Celts fled in confusion, and the road to the Alps was opened.
History of Rome from the Earliest times down to 476 AD|Robert F. Pennell
There was a good deal of confusion; there always is, you know; passengers getting out and getting in.
Johnny Ludlow, Fourth Series|Mrs. Henry Wood
There is some confusion in the various descriptions of these mounds.
On Some Ancient Battle-Fields in Lancashire|Charles Hardwick

British Dictionary definitions for confusion

confusion

/ (kənˈfjuːʒən) /

noun

the act of confusing or the state of being confused

disorder; jumble

bewilderment; perplexity

lack of clarity; indistinctness

embarrassment; abashment

Derived Formsconfusional, adjective

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

Word Origin and History for confusion

confusion

late 13c., "overthrow, ruin," from Old French confusion (11c.) "disorder, confusion, shame," from Latin confusionem (nominative confusio) "a mingling, mixing, blending; confusion, disorder," noun of action from confundere "to pour together," also "to confuse" (see confound). Sense of "a putting to shame" (a sort of mental "overthrow") is late 14c. in English, while that of "mental perplexity" is from 1590s.

Medicine definitions for confusion

confusion

[ kən-fyōō′zhən ]

n.

Impaired orientation with respect to time, place, or person; a disturbed mental state.

confusion

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of confusion

Examples from the Web for confusion

British Dictionary definitions for confusion

confusion

noun

Word Origin and History for confusion

confusion

Medicine definitions for confusion

confusion

n.