confusing

[ kuh n-fyoo-zing ]
/ kənˈfyu zɪŋ /

adjective

causing or tending to cause confusion: a confusing attempt at explanation.

Origin of confusing

First recorded in 1840–50; confuse + -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM confusing

con·fus·ing·ly, adverb con·fus·ing·ness, noun un·con·fus·ing, adjective

Definition for confusing (2 of 2)

confuse
[ kuhn-fyooz ]
/ kənˈfyuz /

verb (used with object), con·fused, con·fus·ing.

to perplex or bewilder: The flood of questions confused me.
to make unclear or indistinct: The rumors and angry charges tended to confuse the issue.
to fail to distinguish between; associate by mistake; confound: to confuse dates; He always confuses the twins.
to disconcert or abash: His candor confused her.
to combine without order; jumble; disorder: Try not to confuse the papers on the desk.
Archaic. to bring to ruin or naught.

Origin of confuse

back formation from confused (since early 19th century), Middle English confused < Anglo-French confus (with -ed -ed2 maintaining participial sense) < Latin confūsus, past participle of confundere; see confound

synonym study for confuse

1. Confuse, disconcert, embarrass imply temporary interference with the clear working of one's mind. To confuse is to produce a general bewilderment: to confuse someone by giving complicated directions. To disconcert is to disturb one's mind by irritation, perplexities, etc.: to disconcert someone by asking irrelevant questions. To embarrass is to cause one to be ill at ease or uncomfortable, so that one's usual judgment and presence of mind desert one: to embarrass someone by unexpected rudeness.

OTHER WORDS FROM confuse

Example sentences from the Web for confusing

British Dictionary definitions for confusing (1 of 2)

confusing
/ (kənˈfjuːzɪŋ) /

adjective

causing bewilderment; difficult to follow; puzzling

Derived forms of confusing

confusingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for confusing (2 of 2)

confuse
/ (kənˈfjuːz) /

verb (tr)

to bewilder; perplex
to mix up (things, ideas, etc); jumble
to make unclear he confused his talk with irrelevant details
to fail to recognize the difference between; mistake (one thing) for another
to disconcert; embarrass
to cause to become disordered the enemy ranks were confused by gas

Derived forms of confuse

confusable, adjective, noun confusability, noun

Word Origin for confuse

C18: back formation from confused, from Latin confūsus mingled together, from confundere to pour together; see confound