confusion

[kuhn-fyoo-zhuhn]

noun

1. the act of confusing. confusing.

2. the state of being confused.

   Synonyms: distraction

3. disorder; upheaval; tumult; chaos.

   The army retreated in confusion.

   Synonyms: disarray, mess, jumble, turmoil

4. lack of clearness or distinctness.

   a confusion in his mind between right and wrong.

5. perplexity; bewilderment.

   The more difficult questions left us in complete confusion.

6. embarrassment or abashment.

   He blushed in confusion.

   Synonyms: mortification, shame

7. Psychiatry.,  a disturbed mental state; disorientation.

8. Archaic.,  defeat, overthrow, or ruin.

confusion

/ kənˈfjuːʒən /

noun

1. the act of confusing or the state of being confused

2. disorder; jumble

3. bewilderment; perplexity

4. lack of clarity; indistinctness

5. embarrassment; abashment

Other Word Forms

• confusional adjective
• preconfusion noun
• reconfusion noun
• superconfusion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of confusion¹

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; confound ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

Holland, on the heels of his stellar turn in the underappreciated character study “Exhibiting Forgiveness,” can make you forget how little we know of Roger’s background, so magnetic is his prickly, awkward emotional confusion.

From Los Angeles Times

More than once, they were driven not to the hotel but to the front gates of the Imperial Palace, causing confusion and an eventual reroute.

From Los Angeles Times

In this respect “I Know This Much Is True” also is a dramatic tapestry of destructive anger issues, festering under a lifetime of repressed resentment and confusion.

From Salon

Animal lovers argue that much of the confusion stems from a recent Supreme Court order that has reignited a polarising debate: How should India manage its stray dog population in densely populated cities?

From BBC

Majchrzak, 29, who had just won his match against Russian ninth seed Karen Khachanov when the incident unfolded, told the New York Post on Saturday that "obviously it was some kind of confusion".

From BBC

Related Words

• anarchy 
• chaos 
• complexity 
• complication 
• consternation 
• difficulty 
• disarray 
• dislocation 
• distraction 
• mistake 
• trouble 
• turmoil 
• upheaval