confounding

con·found  (kn-found, kn-)

tr.v. con·found·ed, con·found·ing, con·founds

1. To cause to become confused or perplexed. See Synonyms at puzzle.

2. To fail to distinguish; mix up: confound fiction and fact.

3. To make (something bad) worse: Do not confound the problem by losing your temper.

4. To cause to be ashamed; abash: an invention that confounded the skeptics.

5. To damn.

6.

a. To frustrate: trivial demands that confounded the peace talks.

b. Archaic To bring to ruination.

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[Middle English confounden, from Anglo-Norman confundre, from Latin cnfundere, to mix together, confuse : com-, com- + fundere, to pour; see gheu- in Indo-European roots.]

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con·founder n.

con·founding·ly adv.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

confounding - that confounds or contradicts or confuses contradictory unsupportive - not furnishing support or assistance