to confuse

Examples

• All

• For nearly a minute, I stand confused, puzzling through three distractions at once.

  Fiction book (1996)

• She was confused after everyone sang happy birthday to her unexpectedly during lunch.

• But he was starting to get confused because a movie star was talking to him.

  Molly's Game (2017)

• But the thing called a broken heart confused her the most.

  Fiction book (1998)

• So, with all this "special attention" to me only, I started getting confused and a bit uncomfortable around her.

  Blog text (25)

• I see where you've become confused now.

  The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005)

• Fanny has always known her own mind, known it even when frightened and confused.

  Fiction book (2000)

• Mr. Ranjbar, embarrassed and confused, took the ticket from him and moved away hastily.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Phil is confused by Gary's sincerity; so is Gary.

  Fiction book (2001)

• Dom Paulo looks around at the assembled notables, confused, out of his depth.

  Fiction book (1993)

Synonyms

E

to embarrass

vsto confuse

642 2.1

Make someone feel awkward or ashamed in front of others

often does so by surprising attention or sudden actions

H

to humiliate

vsto confuse

• Offensive

414 6.1

Make someone feel very ashamed and foolish, often in front of others

is milder and often accidental embarrassment caused by unexpected actions

S

to shame

vsto confuse

170 3.9

To make someone feel guilty or embarrassed to get them to do something

focuses on brief embarrassment from unexpected attention rather than deep guilt

D

to disconcert

vsto confuse

7 7.1

To make someone feel uncomfortable or embarrassed

usually does so with unexpected attention or actions

A

to abash

vsto confuse

• Formal

2 8.3

To make someone feel embarrassed or shy

often causes embarrassment through unexpected attention or actions

D

to discomfit

vsto confuse

• Formal

1 8.4

To make someone feel uncomfortable, confused, or embarrassed

tends to unsettle by causing surprise and self conscious feelings

C

to chagrin

vsto confuse

8.0

To make someone feel embarrassed or disappointed

is more about surprise embarrassment from attention rather than failure

H

to hurt pride

vsto confuse

5.5

To make someone feel embarrassed and less confident

usually embarrasses through sudden attention rather than by wounding dignity

S

shaming

vsto confuse

4.1

Causing someone to feel ashamed or embarrassed in front of other people

is usually private or accidental embarrassment from sudden attention not public

Antonyms

R

to reassure

163 3.4

To make someone feel less worried and more confident

E

to embolden

40 6.3

To give someone courage to do something

How Embarrassed

to mortify

22 6.9

to embarrass

642 2.1

to confuse

4 2.4

to disconcert

7 7.1

to fluster

3 5.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology