Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- adj. Being unable to think with clarity or act with understanding and intelligence.
- adj. Lacking logical order or sense: a confused set of instructions.
- adj. Chaotic; jumbled: a confused mass of papers on the floor.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- Lacking orderly arrangement of parts; involved; disordered.
- In entomology, tending to become united in one mass, as parts of a jointed organ: as, antennæ with confused outer joints.
- In logic, indistinct: applied especially to an idea whose parts are not clearly distinguished. See clear, a., 6, and distinct.
- Perplexed; embarrassed; disconcerted.
- Synonyms Indiscriminate, indistinct, intricate, deranged.
- Mystified, bewildered, flurried, abashed, discomposed, agitated, mortified.
Wiktionary
- adj. chaotic, jumbled or muddled
- adj. making no sense; illogical
- adj. embarrassed
- v. simple past tense and past participle of confuse.
GNU Webster's 1913
- adj. same as confounded.
- adj. lacking orderly continuity.
- adj. thrown into disorder.
- adj. having lost one's bearings physically or mentally.
- adj. not marked by fine distinctions.
- adj. causing bafflement and confusion.
WordNet 3.0
- adj. having lost your bearings; confused as to time or place or personal identity
- adj. lacking orderly continuity
- adj. perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
- adj. mentally confused; unable to think with clarity or act intelligently
- adj. thrown into a state of disarray or confusion
Examples
“The term confused a resource system that might or might not have a linked property-rights system with a form of institution called “common property.””
“I suspect the impatiently onomatopoeic qualities of the word confused him.”
“He looked up at her, his expression confused and tense.”
“The term confused Windsor plant employees, as well as Peter Kruse, senior vice president for group communications for Vestas in Copenhagen.”
“This time, though, they're avoiding the word "fertilization" in the amendment's language, saying that the term confused voters, who may have visualized chicken eggs.”
“In a sensitive way, too: He used the word "confused," not "upset" - inviting you to explain your thoughts, vs. tend to his feelings.”
The Washington Post: He cheated on her in college. Will he stray again?
“The clerk jerked to a stop, her expression confused.”
“However, repeatedly characterizing McCain's false claims as him likely being "confused" is defensible, and within the bounds of bare-knuckled political brawling.”
“He can't point to anything concrete, and if he tries to explain why "confused" is code for "being old", he'll look like a whiner, the media won't buy it, and people will just be reminded again that he's a septuagenarian.”
“Later when asked if calling McCain "confused" could be taken as a shot at the 71-year-old senator's age, Kerry said that suggestion was "unfair and ridiculous.”
Lists
‘confused’ hasn't been added to any lists yet.
Comments
No comments yet...
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.