as in perplexing
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in baffling
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
we were confounded by the player's remote control, which wasn't at all user-friendly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in embarrassing
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
his renewed popularity has confounded the critics who said his singing career was dead
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in confusing
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related
I think you've confounded astrology with astronomy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in refuting
to prove to be false
new discoveries that confound much of what archaeologists thought they knew about the Mayan civilization
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confounding
Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
Though none of that even scratches the surface of all the Jets’ confounding mental errors on Sunday.
—Zack Rosenblatt, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
Are your former lovers dying in increasingly mysterious and confounding ways?
—Matt Minton, Variety, 20 Dec. 2024
Morris probed top executives for months about the rumor’s origins and received a confounding mix of finger-pointing and memory lapses, as detailed in a 1,100-page investigative case file reviewed by The Times.
—Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
All the while, his body betrays him in novel and confounding ways.
—Longreads, 18 Dec. 2024
In the 15 years since, mysteries have continued to surround their deaths — as has speculation about their former home's possible role in the confounding story, from reports of otherworldly encounters to rumors that something else within the house may have played a part.
—Mackenzie Schmidt, People.com, 15 Dec. 2024
Mysterious drones have been showing up in the skies above New Jersey and other states for weeks, confounding residents and prompting lawmakers to call for more answers as to what exactly is going on.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 14 Dec. 2024
Also confounding—especially given the three-screen display split between TVs hanging from the ceiling in an arrangement that evokes a sort of ghostly sports bar.
—Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
Brunson and Towns are confounding opposing defenses in two-man action, and this starting lineup can comfortably go five out to lengthen and distort the floor.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
Though none of that even scratches the surface of all the Jets’ confounding mental errors on Sunday.
—Zack Rosenblatt, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
Are your former lovers dying in increasingly mysterious and confounding ways?
—Matt Minton, Variety, 20 Dec. 2024
Morris probed top executives for months about the rumor’s origins and received a confounding mix of finger-pointing and memory lapses, as detailed in a 1,100-page investigative case file reviewed by The Times.
—Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
All the while, his body betrays him in novel and confounding ways.
—Longreads, 18 Dec. 2024
In the 15 years since, mysteries have continued to surround their deaths — as has speculation about their former home's possible role in the confounding story, from reports of otherworldly encounters to rumors that something else within the house may have played a part.
—Mackenzie Schmidt, People.com, 15 Dec. 2024
Mysterious drones have been showing up in the skies above New Jersey and other states for weeks, confounding residents and prompting lawmakers to call for more answers as to what exactly is going on.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 14 Dec. 2024
Also confounding—especially given the three-screen display split between TVs hanging from the ceiling in an arrangement that evokes a sort of ghostly sports bar.
—Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 13 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confounding
Adjective
-
With new mysteries such as dark matter, dark energy, the search for a quantum theory of gravity, the Hubble tension and the cause of the Big Bang all perplexing physicists, now would be a great time for another transformation in science akin to that of a century ago.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
17 Jan. 2025
-
One of the more perplexing things about the Kings over the first half of the season has been their abysmal home record.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacramento Bee,
2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Hall ended up refuting his own hypothesis.—
Dhruv Khullar,
The New Yorker,
6 Jan. 2025
-
Two people aim to jointly and with intensity deliberate with each other, testing each other, refuting each other at times, and otherwise pursuing an in-depth cross-examining dialogue.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Other than Notre Dame’s baffling performances in the Cayman Islands against TCU and Utah, the Big 12 didn’t have many marquee victories in nonconference play.—
Sabreena Merchant,
The Athletic,
20 Jan. 2025
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This decision is a baffling swerve for a celebrity biopic, one that will probably keep it from becoming an out-and-out sensation.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Researchers are particularly focused on unraveling the puzzling interplay between gas content, magma pressure and lava flow dynamics.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
3 Jan. 2025
-
Almost two years into his ordeal, Gould learned of an initiative at the National Institutes of Health that focuses on solving the country’s most puzzling medical cases.—
Jason Liebowitz,
The Atlantic,
2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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When proposing changes or challenging existing practices, presenting ideas at the right time is essential.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
-
And don’t overlook the impact that challenging engineering and construction conditions can have on your calculations.—
Katherine Latham,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Russia was becoming more closed, and this was disconcerting for a generation that had grown up in a modernized and relatively open society.—
Andrei Kolesnikov,
Foreign Affairs,
15 Oct. 2024
-
Calculations on how many homeowners are at risk and how many are covered vary, but all are disconcerting.—
Kate Gibson,
CBS News,
4 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
Real relationships, including the messy, spontaneous, and occasionally frustrating ones, offer a depth of connection that AI can never replicate.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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Reinhart has been facing this frustrating situation privately, but decided to share it publicly now for a very personal reason: At the time of this interview, her grandmother had recently been diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer.—
Julia Sullivan,
SELF,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But beyond those bewildering effects, Lynch was onto something.—
Billy J. Stratton,
The Conversation,
17 Jan. 2025
-
Her bewildering response may put an end to her political career, as withering criticisms continue.—
The Editorial Board,
Orange County Register,
15 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near confounding
Cite this Entry
“Confounding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confounding. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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