confusion
noun
con·fu·sion kən-ˈfyü-zhən 
1
: an act or instance of confusing
confusion of the issue
2
a
: the quality or state of being confused
Try to relieve their confusion.
mental confusion
b
: a confused mass or mixture
a confusion of voices
confusional
kən-ˈfyüzh-nəl
adjective -ˈfyü-zhə-nᵊl
Synonyms
- bafflement
- bamboozlement
- befuddlement
- bemusement
- bewilderedness
- bewilderment
- confusedness
- discombobulation
- distraction
- fog
- head-scratching
- maze [chiefly dialect]
- muddle
- mystification
- perplexity
- puzzlement
- tangle
- whirl
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
There is still some confusion as to the time of the meeting. There is a great deal of confusion about how the system works. the anxieties and confusions of teenage life He stared in confusion and disbelief. There was total confusion when the truck hit the restaurant.
Recent Examples on the Web For some, the silence could represent genuine confusion as to how exactly they’re meant to conform to the sanctions. 
Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2022 Debruge’s sentiment was shared by many, who took to social media to express their confusion. Carson Burton, Variety, 8 Sep. 2022 One was a pretty straightforward logo with block letters and an arrow, which was classy but criticized for causing confusion — sending BART riders away from some platforms depending on where the logo was placed. Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Sep. 2022 The new numbers are more transparent than the old ones, but CPU model number confusion isn't going anywhere. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 7 Sep. 2022 The potential for confusion is from the color of the cap for the vials. Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Her face got squinty, an unmistakable tell for confusion. Mike Kerrigan, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 This isn’t the first time labeling has sparked confusion. Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 6 Sep. 2022 Her expression doesn’t help, a mix of confusion evident in her tone. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2022 See More
Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2022 Debruge’s sentiment was shared by many, who took to social media to express their confusion. Carson Burton, Variety, 8 Sep. 2022 One was a pretty straightforward logo with block letters and an arrow, which was classy but criticized for causing confusion — sending BART riders away from some platforms depending on where the logo was placed. Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Sep. 2022 The new numbers are more transparent than the old ones, but CPU model number confusion isn't going anywhere. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 7 Sep. 2022 The potential for confusion is from the color of the cap for the vials. Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Her face got squinty, an unmistakable tell for confusion. Mike Kerrigan, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 This isn’t the first time labeling has sparked confusion. Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 6 Sep. 2022 Her expression doesn’t help, a mix of confusion evident in her tone. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English confusioun "ruin, disgrace, disorder," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French confusiun, borrowed from Latin confūsiōn-, confūsiō "mixing, combining, disorder, consternation," from confud-, variant stem of confundere "to pour together, blend, bring into disorder, destroy, disconcert" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at confound
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
confusion
noun
con·fu·sion kən-ˈfyü-zhən
1
: difficulty in understanding or in being able to tell one thing from a similar thing
2
: a feeling or state of uncertainty
Medical Definition
confusion
noun
con·fu·sion kən-ˈfyü-zhən
: disturbance of consciousness characterized by inability to engage in orderly thought or by lack of power to distinguish, choose, or act decisively
Legal Definition
confusion
noun
con·fu·sion
1
in the civil law of Louisiana : a uniting of two interests or rights in property into one compare merger sense 1
2
in the civil law of Louisiana : the termination of an obligation by a person acquiring the right from which the obligation arose
3
: the mixing or blending together of goods or commodities so that the individual owners cannot identify their own property
called also confusion of goods
confusion
noun
1
as in tangle
a state of mental uncertainty the farmer's driving directions to the fairground just left us in total confusion Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- tangle
- perplexity
- fog
- bewilderment
- befuddlement
- discomfort
- bafflement
- embarrassment
- distress
- puzzlement
- bemusement
- dismay
- discombobulation
- mystification
- maze
- confusedness
- head-scratching
- commotion
- distraction
- bamboozlement
- agitation
- turmoil
- muddle
- bewilderedness
- upset
- discomfiture
- mortification
- disturbance
- chagrin
- disquiet
- perturbation
- whirl
- abashment
- flurry
- fluster
- fuss
- disconcertment
- bother
- dither
- stew
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- certainty
- confidence
- conviction
- assurance
- certitude
- positiveness
- sureness
2
as in chaos
a state in which everything is out of order it was hard to find anything in that confusion in the attic Synonyms & Similar Words
- chaos
- havoc
- jumble
- mess
- hell
- disorder
- disarray
- disorganization
- messiness
- disarrangement
- muddle
- tangle
- heck
- disorderliness
- clutter
- dishevelment
- welter
- riot
- shambles
- muss
- anarchy
- snake pit
- maze
- tumble
- misorder
- disorderedness
- labyrinth
- free-for-all
- chance-medley
- mare's nest
- misrule
- lawlessness
- snarl
- maelstrom
- mishmash
- morass
- web
- hodgepodge
- shuffle
- storm
- knot
- litter
- medley
- miscellany
- motley
- bollix
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- order
- orderliness
- system
- pattern
- plan
- method
3
as in embarrassment
the emotional state of being made self-consciously uncomfortable thrown into speechless confusion by the wild accusations Synonyms & Similar Words
- embarrassment
- unease
- discomfort
- dismay
- humiliation
- discomfiture
- mortification
- upset
- shame
- fluster
- agitation
- uneasiness
- abashment
- distress
- chagrin
- disquiet
- disturbance
- perturbation
- discomposure
- egg on one's face
- ignominy
- disconcertment
- degradation
- disgrace
- debasement
- bother
- humble pie
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- confidence
- coolness
- assurance
- equanimity
- composure
- poise
- aplomb
- self-assurance
- self-confidence
- self-possession