Confuse
Confuse verb - To throw into a state of mental uncertainty.
Explain
Explain verb - To make plain or understandable.
Usage example: a pamphlet that explains the medical procedure in language that any layperson can understand
Common collocations
| name | confuse name | explain name |
| time | confuse time | explain time |
| characters | confuse characters | explain characters |
| bit | confuse bit | explain bit |
| Other words: events. | ||
Both words in one sentence
-
The book doesn't explain WHY a monkey can be used as a wrench, though, which, of course will confuse players.
Source: That One Puzzle - It's easy to explain it off-screen, but doing so would confuse the viewer and make them think they missed something.
Source: The Reveal -
The robot duplicates of The Children explain to the audience (but confuse the rest of the class) about the making of the OVA and the possibility of a season two.
Source: Manga / Zettai Karen Children
Cite this Source
Explain and Confuse. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/confuse/explain
Confuse & Explain. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/confuse/explain>.
Explain or Confuse. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/confuse/explain.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "confuse" and "explain" have occurred on timeline