confused

adjective

con·​fused kən-ˈfyüzd 

1

a

: being perplexed or disconcerted

the confused students

b

: disoriented with regard to one's sense of time, place, or identity

The patient became confused.

2

: indistinguishable

a zigzag, crisscross, confused trail

—Harry Hervey

3

: being disordered or mixed up

a contradictory and often confused story

confusedly

kən-ˈfyü-zəd-lē 

-ˈfyüzd-

adverb

confusedness

kən-ˈfyü-zəd-nəs 

-ˈfyüz(d)-

noun

Synonyms

• chaotic
• cluttered
• disarranged
• disarrayed
• disheveled
• dishevelled
• disordered
• disorderly
• higgledy-piggledy
• hugger-mugger
• jumbled
• littered
• messed
• messy
• muddled
• mussed
• mussy
• pell-mell
• rumpled
• sloppy
• topsy-turvy
• tousled
• tumbled
• unkempt
• untidy
• upside-down

Examples of confused in a Sentence

I've never been so confused.

We're confused about what to do next.

He gave a confused speech denying the accusations.

Recent Examples on the Web

From there, the show spun outward, presenting a whole cast of shadowy doubles and mysteriously cosmic back doors—during which distance grew between us, the confused audience, and Laura’s death, which had kicked off the entire franchise. —K. Austin Collins, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025

The bride was confused at this, and even more taken back by her hostility. —Rachel Raposas, People.com, 6 Feb. 2025

Mittens was confused but has since settled back in with her family. —Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025

Some were confused and shocked, while others were unsure what all the commotion was about since Censori is an adult woman who is capable of making her own decisions. —Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English — more at confuse

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Medical Definition

confused

adjective

con·​fused kən-ˈfyüzd 

: affected with mental confusion