Confuse vs. Puzzle — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 3, 2024
"Confuse" involves causing someone to become bewildered or unable to understand, while "puzzle" refers to causing someone to think hard to solve a complex problem.
Difference Between Confuse and Puzzle
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
To "confuse" typically means to make someone unable to think clearly or to understand something properly. On the other hand, to "puzzle" someone specifically involves challenging their understanding with a problem that requires thoughtful solving.
Confusion can result from a lack of clarity, misleading information, or complexity in communication. Whereas being puzzled usually stems from encountering a question or problem that demands analytical thinking or deeper comprehension.
When someone is confused, they might feel disoriented and frustrated due to their inability to grasp information. Conversely, when puzzled, the individual might experience intrigue and motivation to resolve a challenging or ambiguous situation.
Teachers might intentionally puzzle their students to stimulate critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In contrast, causing confusion is generally seen as undesirable in educational settings as it hinders learning.
In everyday language, saying someone is "confused" often implies a temporary state of perplexity or misunderstanding, while describing someone as "puzzled" suggests they are engaged in trying to solve a specific and challenging problem.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
To cause to be unable to think clearly
To cause to think hard to solve a problem
Resulting feeling
Bewilderment, frustration
Intrigue, motivation
Common causes
Lack of clarity, misleading information
Complex problems, need for analysis
Intentionality
Often unintentional, undesirable
Often intentional, used as a teaching strategy
Context of use
General confusion, unclear situations
Specific challenges, problems needing solutions
Compare with Definitions
Confuse
To disorient or throw into disorder.
The abrupt change in management confused the company's normal operations.
Puzzle
To cause to feel perplexed about something that is difficult to understand or solve.
The detective was puzzled by the lack of evidence.
Confuse
To perplex or bewilder someone.
The complex nature of the rules confused the new players.
Puzzle
To engage in finding a solution to a complex situation.
The scientist spent hours puzzled over the data.
Confuse
To make someone unable to understand or differentiate clearly.
The contradictory directions confuse the driver.
Puzzle
To occupy the mind with a difficult problem needing a solution.
She was puzzled by her friend’s unusual behavior.
Confuse
To cause to mix up or fail to differentiate separate elements.
She was confused by the twins' striking resemblance.
Puzzle
To challenge with a particular problem or for a specific answer.
The riddle puzzled him for days until he found the answer.
Confuse
To disturb someone's composure or concentration.
Loud noises outside the classroom began to confuse the students during the test.
Puzzle
To require thoughtful consideration to understand or solve.
The philosophical question puzzled the students.
Confuse
Make (someone) bewildered or perplexed
Past and present blurred together, confusing her still further
Puzzle
A puzzle is a game, problem, or toy that tests a person's ingenuity or knowledge. In a puzzle, the solver is expected to put pieces together in a logical way, in order to arrive at the correct or fun solution of the puzzle.
Confuse
To cause to be unable to think with clarity or act with intelligence or understanding; bewilder or perplex.
Puzzle
Something, such as a game, toy, or problem, that requires ingenuity and often persistence in solving or assembling.
Confuse
(Archaic) To cause to feel embarrassment.
Puzzle
Something that baffles or confuses; an enigma
The puzzle of the author's true identity.
Confuse
To fail to differentiate (one person or thing) from another
Confused effusiveness with affection.
Puzzle
The condition of being perplexed; bewilderment
I'm really in a puzzle over how this happened.
Confuse
To make more complex or difficult to understand
"The old labels ... confuse debate instead of clarifying it" (Christopher Lasch).
Puzzle
To baffle or confuse mentally by presenting or being a difficult problem or matter.
Confuse
To make something unclear or incomprehensible
A new tax code that only confuses.
Puzzle
To clarify or solve (something confusing) by reasoning or study
He puzzled out the significance of the statement.
Confuse
(transitive) to puzzle, perplex, baffle, bewilder somebody; to afflict by being complicated, contradictory, or otherwise difficult to understand
It confused me when I went to the office and nobody was there, but then I realised it was Sunday.
Puzzle
To be perplexed.
Confuse
(transitive) To mix up, muddle up one thing with another; to mistake one thing for another.
People who say "hola" to Italians are confusing Italian with Spanish.
Puzzle
To ponder over a problem in an effort to solve or understand it.
Confuse
(transitive) To mix thoroughly; to confound; to disorder.
Puzzle
Anything that is difficult to understand or make sense of.
Where he went after he left the house is a puzzle.
Confuse
To make uneasy and ashamed; to embarrass.
Puzzle
A game for one or more people that is more or less difficult to work out or complete.
Confuse
To rout; discomfit.
Puzzle
A crossword puzzle.
Confuse
(intransitive) To be confused.
Puzzle
A jigsaw puzzle.
Confuse
Mixed; confounded.
Puzzle
A riddle.
Confuse
To mix or blend so that things can not be distinguished; to jumble together; to confound; to render indistinct or obscure; as, to confuse accounts; to confuse one's vision.
A universal hubbub wildOf stunning sounds and voices all confused.
Puzzle
(archaic) Something made with marvellous skill; something of ingenious construction.
Confuse
To perplex; to disconcert; to abash; to cause to lose self-possession.
Nor thou with shadowed hint confuseA life that leads melodious days.
Confused and sadly she at length replied.
Puzzle
The state of being puzzled; perplexity.
To be in a puzzle
Confuse
Mistake one thing for another;
You are confusing me with the other candidate
I mistook her for the secretary
Puzzle
(transitive) To perplex, confuse, or mystify; to cause (someone) to be faced with a mystery, without answers or an explanation.
Confuse
Be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly;
These questions confuse even the experts
This question completely threw me
This question befuddled even the teacher
Puzzle
(intransitive) To think long and carefully, in bewilderment.
We puzzled over the curious-shaped lock, but were unable to discover how the key should be inserted.
Confuse
Cause to feel embarrassment;
The constant attention of the young man confused her
Puzzle
(transitive) To make intricate; to entangle.
Confuse
Assemble without order or sense;
She jumbles the words when she is supposed to write a sentence
Puzzle
Something which perplexes or embarrasses; especially, a toy or a problem contrived for testing ingenuity; also, something exhibiting marvelous skill in making.
Confuse
Make unclear or incomprehensible;
The new tax return forms only confuse
Puzzle
The state of being puzzled; perplexity; as, to be in a puzzle.
Confuse
Make unclear, indistinct, or blurred;
Her remarks confused the debate
Their words obnubilate their intentions
Puzzle
To perplex; to confuse; to embarrass; to put to a stand; to nonplus.
A very shrewd disputant in those points is dexterous in puzzling others.
He is perpetually puzzled and perplexed amidst his own blunders.
Puzzle
To make intricate; to entangle.
They disentangle from the puzzled skein.
The ways of Heaven are dark and intricate,Puzzled in mazes, and perplexed with error.
Puzzle
To solve by ingenuity, as a puzzle; - followed by out; as, to puzzle out a mystery.
Puzzle
To be bewildered, or perplexed.
A puzzling fool, that heeds nothing.
Puzzle
To work, as at a puzzle; as, to puzzle over a problem.
Puzzle
A particularly baffling problem that is said to have a correct solution;
He loved to solve chessmate puzzles
That's a real puzzler
Puzzle
A toy that tests your ingenuity
Puzzle
Be a mystery or bewildering to;
This beats me!
Got me--I don't know the answer!
A vexing problem
This question really stuck me
Puzzle
Be uncertain about; think about without fully understanding or being able to decide;
We puzzled over her sudden departure
Common Curiosities
How is being puzzled different from being confused?
Being puzzled involves trying to solve a specific and often complex problem, whereas being confused is a broader state of being unclear or bewildered.
What are examples of problems that might puzzle someone?
Challenging riddles, complex mathematical problems, or intricate puzzles are typical examples that might puzzle someone.
Can a person be confused and puzzled at the same time?
Yes, a person can be both confused and puzzled if they are unclear about a situation and simultaneously trying to solve a related problem.
What does it mean to confuse someone?
To confuse someone means to make them unable to think clearly or to understand something properly.
What are typical situations where someone might be confused?
Situations with conflicting information, complex instructions, or unfamiliar environments can confuse someone.
Why is it sometimes good to be puzzled?
Being puzzled can stimulate the mind, enhance problem-solving skills, and lead to deeper understanding.
Is it bad to confuse someone?
Generally, causing confusion is considered negative as it hinders understanding and clear communication.
How can teachers use puzzling as an educational tool?
Teachers can use challenging questions or problems to encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
What can be done to reduce confusion in communication?
Clear, concise, and well-structured communication can help reduce confusion.
How can one clarify a confusing situation?
Asking clarifying questions, re-evaluating the information, and seeking additional perspectives can help clarify a confusing situation.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Tenacity vs. Strength
Next Comparison
Quite vs. AlmostAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
