SKIP TO CONTENT

confusing

/kənˈfjuzɪŋ/
/kənˈfjuzɪŋ/
IPA guide

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."

Definitions of confusing
  1. adjective
    causing confusion or disorientation
    “a confusing jumble of road signs”
    “being hospitalized can be confusing and distressing for a small child”
    synonyms:
    disorienting
    causing loss of physical or intellectual bearings
  2. adjective
    lacking clarity of meaning; causing confusion or perplexity
    “sent confusing signals to Iraq”
    synonyms: perplexing, puzzling
    unclear
    not clear to the mind
Pronunciation
US
/kənˈfjuzɪŋ/
UK
/kənˈfjuzɪŋ/
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘confusing'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of gold-punch.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family