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

As confused as Andy sawing a rope with the wrong end of the saw. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 24 Oct. 2024

What Berger manages to do is expertly convince the audience that these cardinals are more human than holy by creating stunning images of robed holy figures chain smoking cigarettes, scrolling on their smartphones and being overall morally confused. —Meredith G. White, The Arizona Republic, 24 Oct. 2024

Tatman was left confused after her procedure and wanted to know if other people had experienced the same thing. —Alyssa Goldberg, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024

In the book, Oliver is confused, terrified and then angry. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024

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