confounded

/kən'faundid/

Thân thiện

The student was confounded by the difficult math problem on the chalkboard.

Definition

Adjective: 1. Extremely perplexed or confused: Feeling or showing complete bewilderment and mental disorientation, often due to a complex or surprising situation. 2. (Informal, dated) Used as an intensifier to express annoyance or emphasis: A mild expletive used to convey frustration, similar to "damned" or "blasted."

Usage and Examples

• As an adjective describing a state of confusion:

  • The confounded tourist stared at the map, unable to find his way.
  • She was confounded by the sudden change in the instructions.
  • His contradictory advice left me utterly confounded.

• As an informal intensifier (expressing annoyance):

  • I can't find my confounded keys anywhere!
  • This confounded computer keeps freezing.

Advanced Usage

• The use of "confounded" as an intensifier ("that confounded noise!") is now considered somewhat old-fashioned or literary but is still understood.
• It can be used attributively (before a noun: "a confounded problem") or predicatively (after a linking verb: "I am confounded").

Variants and Related Words

• Confound (verb): To cause surprise or confusion; to prove wrong.
  • The results confounded all our expectations.
• Confoundedly (adverb, informal/dated): Used for emphasis.
  • It was confoundedly difficult to solve.

Synonyms

• Bewildered
• Baffled
• Perplexed
• Flummoxed
• Nonplussed
• (For the intensifier sense) Damned, Blasted, Cursed

Antonyms

• Clear-headed
• Unperturbed
• Understanding
• Enlightened

Notes on Different Meanings

The two primary meanings are distinct: 1. The first meaning (perplexed) describes an internal state of mind. 2. The second meaning (annoying) is an external modifier expressing the speaker's attitude toward a thing or situation. Context makes the intended meaning clear.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
   • obviously bemused by his questions
   • bewildered and confused
   • a cloudy and confounded philosopher
   • just a mixed-up kid
   • she felt lost on the first day of school