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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

  • confusingly adverb
  • confusingness noun
  • unconfusing adjective

Etymology

Origin of confusing

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

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.

Finally, Dahlia and Mark unpack the thorny and confusing 8-1 decision from the High Court in Chiles v.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

Crypto’s confusing underperformance yet again begs the question: what is it good for?

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Already, there’s plenty of finger-pointing over why this is all so confusing and difficult.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Arguably the biggest talking point - and certainly the most confusing - was Ugarte staying on the pitch despite appearing to be booked twice.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Our jumps had crossed over themselves so much that it all felt like a confusing spiderweb of time travel at this point.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

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.