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confused

confused

18 1.0
Messy and not in order, with things mixed up
  • adjective
  • /kənˈfjuzd/
translation icon : desordenado
  • One of the things that struck me about Premises was its very confused representation of the history of architecture.
  • become confused
  • remain confused
  • get confused

So, no, it's a pretty confused era and and moment.

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Examples

  • It's pretty confused around here.

  • I have never seen an industry as confused as this one.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Things have been so confused around here since the sheriff left.

  • Nothing can be accomplished in a chaotic, confused, or indecisive atmosphere.

    Academic text (2002)
  • The huge kitchen was a confused mess; hermit-like laundry piles and pots stood around.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The Program for Better Jobs and Income (PBJI) reflected the confused nature of liberalism during the 1970s.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The instructions for assembling the furniture were so confused that I couldn't make sense of them.

  • After the meeting, his confused thoughts about the project only seemed to multiply.

  • The confused layout of the old website made it difficult for users to find information.

Synonyms

disorganized
vsconfused
  • US
38 3.1

Not in a clear order or plan

is about simple lack of neat arrangement rather than failed planning
garbled
vsconfused
15 7.6

Speech or writing that is unclear and hard to understand

applies to disorder of things rather than specifically to messages
disjointed
vsconfused
10 6.0

Not clear or organized, with ideas that jump around

is about physical untidiness rather than broken logical links
in a mess
vsconfused
9 1.6

Something that is untidy and not in order

describes the same disorder but as a neutral state rather than an outcome
turvy
vsconfused
  • Archaic
9 9.9

Messy and not organized

is similar but used more widely for ordinary untidiness
upset
vsconfused
9 2.5

Being in a state of disorder or confusion

refers specifically to untidiness rather than emotional disturbance
muddled
vsconfused
7 5.4

Confused and not in clear order so hard to understand

focuses on physical or visible untidiness rather than mental confusion
disordered
vsconfused
7 4.5

Not arranged in a clear or tidy way

is the general idea of disorder focused on untidiness rather than cause
broken
vsconfused
5 1.2

Not organized and in disorder

describes disorder as a general lack of neat arrangement rather than breakage
disorderly
vsconfused
4 4.5

A place or thing that is untidy and not in order

is the broad state of disorder described without emotional tone
unconnected
vsconfused
4 5.1

Not in a clear order or logically linked

focuses on visible mess rather than missing logical links
topsy-turvy
vsconfused
  • Informal
1 7.5

Mixed up and in a messy, confused state

means disorder in position but not necessarily messy mixing
helter-skelter
vsconfused
1 7.3

In a confused, messy way with no order

is the general lack of neat arrangement without implying chaos
scattered
vsconfused
1 3.6

Not in order and difficult to understand or use

is the simple state of disorder without implying physical separation
scrambly
vsconfused
7.6

Messy and jumbled so people cannot understand it

refers more generally to disorder without implying frantic mixing
jumbled
vsconfused
3.8

Mixed together in a confused and untidy way

is broader, covering disorder beyond simple mixed or tangled items
scrambled
vsconfused
3.0

Mixed up in a confused way

covers general lack of arrangement, not only sudden mixing
in great confusion
vsconfused
5.2

With much hurry and disorder

is the neutral condition of disorder without frantic urgency
all sixes and nines
vsconfused
  • Informal
9.9

In a confused and disorganized state

is the standard term for lack of neat arrangement without slangy tone

Antonyms

47 1.0

Having things in order with no mess

19 2.0

Having things in order so they are easy to find

How Organized

neat
144 1.0
untidy
11 1.0
confused
18 1.0
chaotic
116 4.7

Surface Forms

confused positive
confuseder comparative
confusedest superlative

Morphology

confused = confuse (semi-transparent) = confuse + ed

The adjectival form is formed regularly from 'confuse', but the sense 'in a state of disorder' is a broader, less literal extension and may not be fully predictable to all learners.

Etymology

Confused comes from the Latin parts con- 'together' and fundere 'to pour'. The image of things 'poured together' explains this meaning because a confused room is one where items are mixed up and not in order.