1
as in cursed
deserving of one's condemnation or displeasure
that confounded dog chewed up my shoe
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in perplexed
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do
the sudden burden of familial responsibility has left him anxious and confounded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion
since their house is old and impressive-looking, they are frequently imposed upon by confounded tourists
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in baffled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
we were confounded by the player's remote control, which wasn't at all user-friendly
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in embarrassed
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
his renewed popularity has confounded the critics who said his singing career was dead
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in confused
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related
I think you've confounded astrology with astronomy
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4
as in refuted
to prove to be false
new discoveries that confound much of what archaeologists thought they knew about the Mayan civilization
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confounded
Kent Russell, Harper's Magazine, 15 Sep. 2020
In Europe itself, Greece has so far confounded predictions by avoiding the kind of mass outbreaks that have claimed tens of thousands of lives in Italy, France, and Britain.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 2020
And with wild swings on Tuesday, the markets proved those predictions correct, a marker of how confounded investors appear as the covid-19 economic crisis takes a fuller form.
—Jacob Bogage, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Mar. 2020
The Germans are no less confounded than the Democrats.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 14 June 2019
Learn how to work the confounded thing at free Android smartphone workshops being held in South Florida, sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons.
—Doreen Christensen, Sun-Sentinel.com, 9 Mar. 2018
For decades, recovery stories like this confounded researchers, who characterized autism as a lifelong condition.
—Brendan Borrell, Slate Magazine, 22 Sep. 2017
Hazlitt, 11 Dec. 2024
The album confounded some critics upon its release, but was roundly embraced by fans as their favorite artist’s most unguarded statement to date.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 19 Dec. 2024
Strands, our word search puzzle game, has confounded and enthralled solvers.
—New York Times, 18 Dec. 2024
One of these was Dylan’s close friend Pete Seeger, the elder statesman of folk and roots music who’s played in the film by Edward Norton as a kindly patriarch who is confounded by Dylan’s betrayal.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 16 Dec. 2024
The response confounded experts who spoke with ProPublica, who said such an approach misunderstands the long-term nature of his condition.
—Annie Waldman, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
Wake Forest confounded the Stanford women’s soccer team once again on Friday.
—Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 7 Dec. 2024
And there was always a green salad served with a selection of oil, vinegar, and seasonings so everyone at the table could dress their own (a method that confounded me, the child of a balsamic vinaigrette lover).
—Ellen Fort, Saveur, 3 Oct. 2024
On her debut, Minaj rapped ferociously and sang earnestly – sometimes in the same song – a combination of skills that, coupled with the sparkly beats of Drew Money, Swizz Beatz, and Pop & Oak, confounded those who encountered her on a vibe closer to The Come Up DVD.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2024
Adjective
The displeasure of it gave way to absurdity, out of which emerged a mutual, confounded glee.
—Kent Russell, Harper's Magazine, 15 Sep. 2020
In Europe itself, Greece has so far confounded predictions by avoiding the kind of mass outbreaks that have claimed tens of thousands of lives in Italy, France, and Britain.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 2020
And with wild swings on Tuesday, the markets proved those predictions correct, a marker of how confounded investors appear as the covid-19 economic crisis takes a fuller form.
—Jacob Bogage, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Mar. 2020
The Germans are no less confounded than the Democrats.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 14 June 2019
Learn how to work the confounded thing at free Android smartphone workshops being held in South Florida, sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons.
—Doreen Christensen, Sun-Sentinel.com, 9 Mar. 2018
For decades, recovery stories like this confounded researchers, who characterized autism as a lifelong condition.
—Brendan Borrell, Slate Magazine, 22 Sep. 2017
Verb
The music industry was confounded.
—Hazlitt, 11 Dec. 2024
The album confounded some critics upon its release, but was roundly embraced by fans as their favorite artist’s most unguarded statement to date.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 19 Dec. 2024
Strands, our word search puzzle game, has confounded and enthralled solvers.
—New York Times, 18 Dec. 2024
One of these was Dylan’s close friend Pete Seeger, the elder statesman of folk and roots music who’s played in the film by Edward Norton as a kindly patriarch who is confounded by Dylan’s betrayal.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 16 Dec. 2024
The response confounded experts who spoke with ProPublica, who said such an approach misunderstands the long-term nature of his condition.
—Annie Waldman, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
Wake Forest confounded the Stanford women’s soccer team once again on Friday.
—Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 7 Dec. 2024
And there was always a green salad served with a selection of oil, vinegar, and seasonings so everyone at the table could dress their own (a method that confounded me, the child of a balsamic vinaigrette lover).
—Ellen Fort, Saveur, 3 Oct. 2024
On her debut, Minaj rapped ferociously and sang earnestly – sometimes in the same song – a combination of skills that, coupled with the sparkly beats of Drew Money, Swizz Beatz, and Pop & Oak, confounded those who encountered her on a vibe closer to The Come Up DVD.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confounded
Adjective
-
In the film, Kim Cattrall is a cursed Egyptian princess (yes, that’s right) turned department-store mannequin who comes to life for Andrew McCarthy.—
Carrie Wittmer,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Related Articles Keeler: Avalanche’s 2C slot replaced Broncos RT as most cursed position in Colorado sports.—
Corey Masisak,
The Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
In the wooded outskirts of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a perplexed landlord noticed odd sights at two of his rental properties.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Feb. 2025
-
People are still perplexed and saddened by the questionable move on the Mavericks' side, especially their majority owner, Mark Cuban.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Alani, a French journalist, paints a haunting picture of modern Iraq through the eyes of its bewildered children.—
Lisa Anderson,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
-
The snap captures Bailey a bewildered expression on her face.—
Mark Joseph,
Newsweek,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Many people get confused by these forms which contain code and jargon that rarely offer a clear explanation of anything.—
Steve Weisman,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
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Not to be confused with DEI training, skill building is a way to help people improve their communication skills, negotiation style and overall understanding of relevant topics, all while leveling up professionally.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes,
21 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
There are competing stories that the Los Angeles Angels offered Kim a five-year, $28 million guarantee, but Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register has refuted that report.—
Dan Freedman,
Forbes,
4 Jan. 2025
-
The White House, through White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates, refuted many of the claims the Journal made, insisting that Biden would meet often with his Cabinet members and their teams.—
Gord Magill,
Newsweek,
19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Surrounding the headliners are grumpy arena security, who spend the night wearing baffled expressions watching a sea of adults cheer and laugh and applaud over imaginary characters engaged in battles no one can actually see, and rolls of acrylic dice just 16 millimeters in size.—
Eric Francisco,
Rolling Stone,
1 Mar. 2025
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Now, a development that once baffled educators and administrators is ready to go mainstream.—
Lexi Lonas Cochran,
The Hill,
31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Three eyewitnesses spoke of coming upon a dazed Pino clinging to the hull of his overturned boat, Lucy’s body trapped underneath.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
2 Jan. 2025
-
After this, the responsibilities of playing Bush fell to Hammond and later Will Forte, who fit the character more into his own image of a silly little boy in a man’s body rather than re-enact Ferrell’s dazed and confused moron shtick.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The industry has a strong history of fighting warning labels that mention cancer, and alcohol-producing nations have also challenged warning labels under international trade law.—
Roni Caryn Rabin,
New York Times,
3 Jan. 2025
-
Newer scientific studies have criticized the methodology of earlier studies, however, and have challenged that view, which was once a consensus.—
Roni Caryn Rabin,
New York Times,
3 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confounded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confounded. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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