confound
Throw into confusion
Confound means to confuse or perplex someone, often by presenting them with something unexpected or contradictory.
In older or more formal usage, it can mean to defeat or overthrow: The rebels confounded the king's forces.
Confound also appears as a mild oath expressing frustration: Confound it, I've lost my keys again!
In research contexts, a confounding variable is one that distorts results by influencing both the independent and dependent variables.
Cause utter confusion
- baffleConfuse or perplex
- puzzleChallenge testing ingenuity
- mystifyConfuse beyond understanding
- nonplusConfound beyond response
flummox · stump · befuddle · discombobulate · bemuse · disorient · dumbfound · addle
Prevent from succeeding
- foilDefeat a plan
- defeatVictory over another
- stymieTo obstruct or baffle
- obstructBlock or hinder passage
impede · block · hinder · hamper · derail · undermine · sabotage · checkmate
Overwhelm with wonder
- astoundShock with wonder
- staggerWalk unsteadily, sway
- stupefyOverwhelm with astonishment
- flabbergastShock into speechlessness
dumbfound · startle · shock · thunderstruck · gobsmacked · speechless · stun · overwhelm
Prove something untrue
- contradictDispute a statement
- rebutDisprove by argument
- invalidateMake null or void
- debunkExpose as false
overturn · falsify · negate · counter · challenge · undermine · discredit · demolish
Confusion from error
- mistakeWrong action or decision
- blurLack of sharpness
- muddleDisordered, bewildered state
- jumbleConfused disorderly collection
interchange · equate · blend · merge · misidentify · misconstrue · misattribute · interchange
perplex
Cause utter confusion
nonplus · flummox · stump · befuddle · discombobulate · bemuse · disorient · dumbfound · addle · faze
frustrate
Prevent from succeeding
obstruct · impede · block · hinder · hamper · derail · undermine · sabotage · checkmate · outwit
amaze
Overwhelm with wonder
flabbergast · dumbfound · startle · shock · thunderstruck · gobsmacked · speechless · stun · overwhelm · awe
refute
Prove something untrue
- contradictDispute a statement
- rebutDisprove by argument
- invalidateMake null or void
debunk · overturn · falsify · negate · counter · challenge · undermine · discredit · demolish · explode
mix-up
Confusion from error
jumble · interchange · equate · blend · merge · misidentify · misconstrue · misattribute · interchange · entangle
- mind gamesmind game, head game, head games, mind games, intimidation
- research methodsexperiment, hypothesis, deduction, experiments, induction
- minced oathsdarn, heck, gosh, shoot, dang
- stunstun, daze, shock, stupefy, stagger
- old exclamationszounds, gadzooks, egad, egads, forsooth
confoundclarify
Make something understandable
explain · enlighten · elucidate · illuminate · make clear
confounddistinguish
Recognize as distinct
differentiate · discriminate · separate · tell apart · discern
- confound itMild oath of annoyance
- confounding variableUnmeasured cause affecting outcomes