SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
confound
verb
To puzzle, bewilder, or defeat expectations.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
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A useful distinction
Alternatives apply to the displayed meaning. Related wording may differ in tone or grammar and is not always interchangeable.
To puzzle, bewilder, or defeat expectations
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
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Usage distinction
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CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See confound in use
The unexpected result seemed to confound the researchers.
Her rapid improvement would confound the critics.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license