confusion
Americannoun
-
the act of confusing.
-
the state of being confused.
- Synonyms:
- distraction
-
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.
- Synonyms:
- mortification, shame
-
Psychiatry. a disturbed mental state; disorientation.
-
Archaic. defeat, overthrow, or ruin.
noun
-
the act of confusing or the state of being confused
-
disorder; jumble
-
bewilderment; perplexity
-
lack of clarity; indistinctness
-
embarrassment; abashment
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of confusion
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin confūsiōn-, stem of confūsiō “disorder, mixture,” literally “a mixing,” from confūs(us) “mixed” (past participle of cōnfundere; see confound) + -iō -ion
Explanation
If things are a little hazy and you're not quite sure what's going on, you're in a state of confusion. Confusion involves disorder, whether it's mixed up thoughts or plain old chaos. If everyone is screaming and running around, there's a lot of confusion. If you don't understand a math problem, you could be in a state of confusion. Mixing up two people who look alike is another type of confusion. If someone wants to make something very clear, they might say, "Let me clear up any confusion."
Vocabulary lists containing confusion
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act IV
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"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," Vocabulary from Act 4
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Part 1 Vocabulary (Unit 3)
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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.
A cyber attack on Thursday hit several universities and schools in the US and Canada, causing chaos, confusion and major disruptions amid the high stakes end-of-year season.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
The district attorney’s office spokesperson did not immediately respond to a question about whether confusion over Jackson’s understanding of the scripted nature of the event played a role in the plea deal.
From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026
There was confusion in the stands before confirmation came through that VAR had ordered a re-take after watching Van Domselaar leap off her line.
From BBC • May 2, 2026
Borrowers have been contending with major changes to the program in recent years, and scammers are capitalizing on their confusion.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026
She saw him coming and raised her hand in a gentle wave, but a flash of confusion crossed her face; she’d been expecting him, but she hadn’t expected him to be running.
From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly
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.
