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CONFUSED
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Mentally confused; unable to think with clarity or act intelligently
Example:
the flood of questions left her bewildered and confused
Classified under:
Similar:
addlebrained; addlepated; muddleheaded; puddingheaded (stupid and confused)
addled; befuddled; muddled; muzzy; woolly; woolly-headed; wooly; wooly-minded (confused and vague; used especially of thinking)
befogged; befuddled (stupefied by alcoholic drink)
clouded (mentally disordered)
dazed; stunned; stupefied; stupid (in a state of mental numbness especially as resulting from shock)
dazzled (stupefied or dizzied by something overpowering)
trancelike (as if in a trance)
punch-drunk; silly; slaphappy (dazed from or as if from repeated blows)
spaced-out (confused or disoriented as if intoxicated through taking a drug)
Also:
perplexed (full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment)
Antonym:
clearheaded (not mentally confused; able to think clearly and act intelligently)
Derivation:
confusedness (a mental state characterized by a lack of clear and orderly thought and behavior)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Lacking orderly continuity
Example:
scattered thoughts
Synonyms:
confused; disconnected; disjointed; disordered; garbled; illogical; scattered; unconnected
Classified under:
Similar:
incoherent (without logical or meaningful connection)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Thrown into a state of disarray or confusion
Example:
with everything so upset
Synonyms:
broken; confused; disordered; upset
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
disorganised; disorganized (lacking order or methodical arrangement or function)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Having lost your bearings; confused as to time or place or personal identity
Example:
the anesthetic left her completely disoriented
Synonyms:
confused; disoriented; lost
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
unoriented (not having position or goal definitely set or ascertained)
Derivation:
confusedness (a mental state characterized by a lack of clear and orderly thought and behavior)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
Example:
she felt lost on the first day of school
Synonyms:
at sea; baffled; befuddled; bemused; bewildered; confounded; confused; lost; mazed; mixed-up
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
perplexed (full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment)
Derivation:
confusedness (a mental state characterized by a lack of clear and orderly thought and behavior)
II. (verb)
Sense 1
Past simple / past participle of the verb confuse
Context examples:
It is often confused with uveitis and endophthalmitis, resulting in delayed diagnosis of the malignancy.
(Diffuse Retinoblastoma, NCI Thesaurus)
Maria's notions on the subject were more confused and indistinct.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
The woman asked her what she did there, but she looked very strangely and only returned a confused and unintelligible answer.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
Yes, only ten days ago had he elated her by his pointed regard—had he even confused her by his too significant reference!
(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)
“Mr. Knightley,” said Emma, trying to be lively, but really confused—“I am in a very extraordinary situation.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
He was more obviously struck and confused by the sight of her than she had ever observed before; he looked quite red.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
I was only confused for the moment, because I felt that I should be looked at.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
Pseudogout has similar symptoms and is sometimes confused with gout.
(Gout, NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
With a confused brain, but with a heart into which some warmth of hope was returning, I accompanied my friend in a walk round the garden.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Marianne was surprised and confused, yet she could not help smiling at the quiet archness of his manner, and after a moment's silence, said, Oh, Edward! How can you?
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
