confounds
Throws completely off
Confounds means baffles or defeats understanding: The results confounded experts.
To confound is also to mix up or fail to distinguish: Don't confound correlation with causation.
In older or emphatic usage, confound expresses frustration: Confound it!
To confound expectations is to defy them—usually by succeeding when failure was predicted.
Prove something untrue
- debunkExpose as false
- contradictDispute a statement
- disproveProve something untrue
- rebutDisprove by argument
invalidate · negate · overturn · challenge · undermine · counter · falsify · discredit
Mental state of confusion
- bewildermentState of being baffled
- perplexityMental state of confusion
- puzzlementState of being baffled
- flummoxTo thoroughly confuse
nonplus · dumbfound · befuddlement · discombobulate · stupefaction · consternation · flabbergast · confuse
Changeable elements in equations
- experimentalTesting new methods
- controlAuthority to direct
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
- validityQuality of being sound
statistical · methodology · extraneous · spurious · correlation · causation · covariates · factors
Something hard to fathom
- crypticObscure in meaning
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
- obscureUnknown to most
- inexplicableCannot be accounted for
unfathomable · arcane · abstruse · impenetrable · opaque · esoteric · baffling · perplexing
refute
Prove something untrue
- debunkExpose as false
- contradictDispute a statement
- disproveProve something untrue
rebut · invalidate · negate · overturn · challenge · undermine · counter · falsify · discredit · controvert
bafflement
Mental state of confusion
- bewildermentState of being baffled
- perplexityMental state of confusion
- puzzlementState of being baffled
flummox · nonplus · dumbfound · befuddlement · discombobulate · stupefaction · consternation · flabbergast · confuse · mystify
variables
Changeable elements in equations
- experimentalTesting new methods
- controlAuthority to direct
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
validity · statistical · methodology · extraneous · spurious · correlation · causation · covariates · factors · interference
enigma
Something hard to fathom
- crypticObscure in meaning
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
- obscureUnknown to most
inexplicable · unfathomable · arcane · abstruse · impenetrable · opaque · esoteric · baffling · perplexing · elusive
frustrate
Prevent from succeeding
obstruct · hinder · impede · block · derail · sabotage · undermine · circumvent · outwit · outmaneuver
- research methodsexperiment, hypothesis, deduction, experiments, induction
- stunsamazes, astounds, dumbfounds, stuns, shocks
confoundsclarifies
Makes more understandable
explains · illuminates · elucidates · enlightens · makes clear
confoundsdifferentiates
Identifies distinguishing features
distinguishes · discriminates · separates · categorizes · tells apart
- confound itMild oath of annoyance
- confounding variableUnmeasured cause affecting outcomes